Inflation and rising living costs have made it harder for 8 out of 10 (79 %) Merced County residents to pay bills, buy food, or cover medical expenses.
- Feb 18
- 1 min read
Recent research we performed on behalf of Legacy Health Endowment revealed:
Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) chose not to fill a prescription medication due to cost.
More than a third (34 percent) were unable to eat three meals a day because food was not available or too expensive.
Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) ate just one meal a day because food was not available or too expensive.
A quarter of residents avoided going to a grocery store due to rising inflation and the overall cost of living, while 24 percent avoided going to the doctor.
Beyond healthcare, Merced County families are grappling with fundamental survival:
More than half (52 percent) are struggling to pay their bills.
Nearly a supermajority (63 percent) is living paycheck to paycheck with no ability to save.
Nearly a quarter (23 percent) have fallen behind on utility payments within the past six months, while more than a quarter (26 percent) have not been able to make a credit card payment during that time.
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