Health Costs

The MIDTERMS

Democrats Hold a Nearly 2-to-1 Advantage Over Republicans on Handling the Cost of Health Care

Poll: Cost of Health Care and Gas Top Voters’ Midterm Concerns; Democrats Hold Significant Advantage on Health Care Costs and Cost of Living 

With the 2026 midterms about a month away, health care costs remain tied with gas as voters’ top midterm concerns and the Democrats hold a clear edge over the Republicans Party on who voters trust to handle many top electoral issues, including the cost of health care and the cost of living. Two-thirds of U.S. adults now favor Medicare-for-all, a new high in KFF Polling, but support shifts when competing claims from critics and proponents are heard.

New and noteworthy

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.

Health System Tracker

Is This A Healthcare Economy?

Health care employment has grown faster than other sectors of the economy, with jobs in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, home health, and other settings increasing over the past year even as the rest of the job market plateaued. 

Cumulative percent change in health sector and non-health sector employment, January 1990 - August 2026

What Are the Recent Trends in Health Sector Employment

Health care employment continues to grow even as hiring across other sectors has plateaued. The health sector added nearly 379,000 jobs over the past year, a 2% increase, compared with just 0.2% growth in other non-farm employment, with outpatient care among the fastest-growing health care settings.

How TrumpRx Brand-Name Drug Prices Compare

TrumpRx prices for brand-name drugs are about as likely to be higher as lower compared to average prices in other wealthy countries, according to an analysis that compares 32 brand-name drugs.

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  • National Survey of Physicians Part II: Doctors and Prescription Drugs

    Other Post

    With attention focused recently on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, findings from a new National Survey of Physicians by the Kaiser Family Foundation shed light on another factor in drug promotion that has received less attention -- promotion to physicians. Most physicians say they have received perks from a drug company representative, including free drug samples, meals, tickets to events, free travel and other incentives. When asked their views on information they receive from drug…

  • Protection in Managed Care Plans: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Proposal Federal Legislation

    Other Post

    Part I: Congressional Budget Reconciliation Proposals A. Entities Regulated Issue H.R. 2015--House Budget Bill(Medicare) S. 947--Senate Budget Bill(Medicare) H.R. 2015--House Budget Bill(Medicaid) S. 947--Senate Budget Bill(Medicaid) Establishes new Medicare managed care program, "MedicarePlus;" MedicarePlus plan options include coordinated care plans (HMOs, PPOs), MSA plans (exceptions for MSA plans from some requirements). (Medicare eligibles can still choose the traditional fee-for-service program.) Medicare; established new "Medicare Choice" program. Medicare Choice plan options include fee-for-service, PPOs, point-of-service plans,…

  • Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in California: Current Trends, Future Outlook, and Coverage Expansions — Issue Brief

    Issue Brief

    A 4-page issue brief that looks at trends in employer-sponsored health insurance coverage in California. The brief also includes public and private sector strategies for expanding employment-based coverage, and discusses how other states have implemented incremental coverage expansions using public programs and financial incentives, with emphasis on New York State. The brief lists the panel for a California Health Policy Roundtable held in Sacramento, California on May 4, 2001. Issue Brief

  • NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Kennedy School of Government Survey on Health Care – Chart Pack

    Poll Finding

    New NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Kennedy School of Government Survey on Health Care A new survey by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard s Kennedy School of Government finds that many Americans have real problems when it comes to accessing and paying for health care, and even if they haven't yet faced a problem, many worry about getting and paying for care in the future. The survey also shows that, while people think helping seniors…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation 1998 National Survey on Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives – News Release

    Other Post

    Americans Support Requiring Insurers To Cover Contraceptives, Even If Premiums Rise. More Women and Men Say Contraceptives Should Be Covered Than Say Viagra Embargoed for release until: 9:30 AM, ET, Friday, June 19, 1998 For further information contact: Tina Hoff or Matt James Menlo Park, CA - Most Americans support requiring insurers to provide contraceptives as part of prescription coverage, even if premiums rise, according to a new national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.…

  • Trends and Indicators in the Changing Health Care Marketplace: Chartbook

    Report

    This chartbook provides an overview of health care spending and trends in health plan enrollment. It highlights health insurance premiums and costs, health insurance benefits, the structure of the health care market. Data on the stock markets role within the health care industry and implications of health insurance trends for consumers and the safety net is also included. Chartbook

  • Medical Groups — Issue Brief

    Issue Brief

    A 2-page issue brief about medical groups in California, including a discussion on risk-bearing, solvency and current regulatory approaches. In preparation for a Roundtable Event: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 - 1:00-4:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 447 - Sacramento, California. Issue Brief

  • Prescription Drugs: Results from a National Survey

    Fact Sheet

    Prescription drugs have become an integral part of medical practice - they help keep people healthy and save lives. But rising prescription drug costs have placed a growing burden on consumers, employers, and public programs. The issue of drug coverage for seniors under Medicare has moved to center stage in the Presidential election. Findings from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health "National Survey on Prescription Drugs," a Public Opinion Update…