What to Do When Medical Costs Compete with Daily Living Expenses

By Julie HayesNovember 14, 2025

Should I pay my utility bills this month, or for my prescription medicine?

It’s an all-too-familiar and heartbreaking scenario for many older adults. With inflation driving up household and medical costs, older Americans often find themselves caught in a painful trade-off—paying for heat or electricity vs. filling a prescription or seeing a specialist. One study found nearly two-thirds of older adults consider health-care costs at least a minor burden, and around 40 percent reported skipping basic needs like utilities or food to cover medical expenses. A growing portion are doing the opposite, and skipping necessary treatment and medicine so they can afford essentials of daily life. According to recent data, about one in five adults skipped prescriptions because of cost.

The consequences of either end of this dilemma can be devastating. If you pay for medicine but cut back on food, you may suffer the consequences of an insubstantial diet, which may worsen your condition. On the flip side, if you stop your medication, your condition may deteriorate, leading to higher costs and more intensive care in the future.

If you find yourself in this situation, here are some steps to consider:

Step One: Review your budget with care

Take a clear look at your monthly expenses: utilities, housing, medications, doctor visits, transportation and food. Are there any areas where you can reduce cost or replace with assistance? Start by contacting your utility companies. Many have low-income programs, flexible payment plans or emergency assistance.

For more information about budgeting, check out our in-depth guide of budgeting tips for older adults.

Step Two: Look for benefits and help you may already qualify for

Many older adults mistakenly assume they don’t qualify for assistance, whether for health-care, prescription help, housing or utilities. But there are tools to help you check:

  • Use BenefitsCheckUp®, a free online tool from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), to find programs for which you may be eligible—including utility relief and medication assistance.
  • Visit USA.gov’s Benefit Finder to explore housing, utilities, and medical-cost relief programs.
  • Look into free benefit enrollment help such as State Health Insurance Assistance Programs. Benjamin Rose offers enrollment help to people in the Greater Cleveland Area through our Benefits Enrollment Center.

These resources may help lower costs for prescriptions, doctor visits or utilities, freeing up money so you don’t have to make these difficult decisions.

Step Three: Protect your health, not just your budget

Skipping or stopping medications is a red flag. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis or cognitive decline can worsen quickly without proper treatment. Preventive and maintenance care is cheaper in the long run and often keeps you living safely at home. If you find yourself choosing utilities over your medications, it’s time for a change in strategy.

Schedule a review with your doctor or pharmacist: ask which medications are essential right now, whether generics or discounted programs are available, and which treatments might be safely delayed. Some clinics offer sliding-scale fees or free medication-assistance for older adults.

Step Four: Know when it’s time to ask for help

If you’ve applied for benefit programs, trimmed non-essentials, and still find yourself skipping meds or rationing utilities, that’s a sign you need outside help.

That might mean:

  • Talking to a social worker or aging-services professional about additional supports (meal delivery, utility subsidies, transportation help).
  • Checking for home care programs or community-based services that relieve the burden.
  • Considering whether your care needs have progressed to the point where staying at home is riskier or costlier to your health

Failing to act now can increase risks of hospitalization, loss of independence or far greater costs later. Protect your health, stay connected with your care provider and seek help when finances threaten your medications or safety. Your well-being matters just as much as your bills.

If you’d like help finding benefits, exploring discounts on prescriptions, or connecting with an aging services expert who can walk you through options, reach out today. You don’t have to make impossible choices alone.