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Drew Altman: The Group that Struggles the Most in U.S. Health Care

In a new column, KFF’s Founding President and CEO previews findings about the chronically ill uninsured from a large KFF survey of 25,000 Americans focusing on the cost and access challenges facing the chronically ill, which will be released tomorrow. He writes: “There are more than enough needs to go around in American health care, but if I had to pick the one group that struggles the most with costs and access, it would be people with chronic illnesses who are also uninsured.”

Quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman reads, "when it comes to the “affordability crisis” driving the national discussion of health care today, the chronically ill, and most of all the chronically ill uninsured, are the tip of the spear."

vaccines

The Monitor: Executive Order and Officials’ False Claims Question Vaccine Safety

State, Local Policies on Vaccine Requirements for School Attendance

Impact of Federal Vaccine Recommendations on Insurance Coverage

Kindergarten Routine Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline

As measles cases rise across the U.S., children’s routine vaccination rates continue to decline while exemptions from school vaccination requirements, particularly non-medical exemptions, have increased. In a new analysis, KFF finds that about 280,000 kindergarteners were unvaccinated against measles in the 2025–2026 school year, and for the sixth year in a row, MMR vaccinations fell below the 95% level needed to prevent community transmission.

Health Information and Trust Poll: Who’s More Likely to Believe False Vaccine Claims?

MAGA and MAHA Parents Are More Likely Than Others To Think the CDC Was Recommending Too Many Childhood Vaccines

Quick Take

Aug 26, 2026

The Trump Administration’s Proposed $103,265 Fee for H-1B Visas Could Affect the Health Care Workforce
Quick Take

Aug 19, 2026

New Guidance on Public Charge Determinations Does Not Specify Key Concepts, Likely Resulting in Immigrant Families Facing Ongoing Confusion and Fear
Quick Take

Aug 13, 2026

New Regulation Prohibits Federal Medicaid Funds From Covering Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Young People

View all Quick Insights

new and noteworthy

Correcting False Health Claims and Navigating AI-Generated Information

Availability of Rural Hospitals Providing Inpatient Maternity Care in Medicaid

Podcast: AI’s Role in Health Care — What Keeps You Up at Night?

KFF Announces Leadership Transition

health costs

Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs

This data note reviews our recent polling data that finds that many Americans struggle to afford many aspects of health care, including disproportionate shares of uninsured adults, Black and Hispanic adults and those with lower incomes.

Poll: Costs Are the Top Health Care Issue for Voters in the Midterms

Survey: Examining LGBTQ+ Adults’ Experiences with Health Care Costs and Access

Analysis: How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2027

From Larry Levitt: Why Do We Hear More About High Drug Prices Than About Hospital Prices?

Are Health Insurers to Blame for Our Health System Problems?

Political leaders on both sides point fingers at health insurers for high costs and patient frustrations. How much blame do insurers, in fact, deserve for our health system’s problems? This three-part video series from KFF considers this question and the complicated answer, exploring what’s driving rising insurance premiums, whether insurers provide value, and who we trust to decide what gets covered and at what price. Watch and share →