In the wake of a crisis: Caught between housing and healthcare

•We examined housing insecurity and foregone medication due to cost during Recession.•Examined Medicare beneficiaries in the Health and Retirement Study from 2006 to 2012.•Novel use of the Housing and Urban Development housing insecurity index.•Incident vs. no housing insecurity increased odds of foregone medication by 64% during the Recession.•Implications for high-risk adults with limited financial resources during crises.