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.

Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults Now Favor Medicare-for-All, the Largest Share Since KFF Began Polling on the Plan

Current and Historical Public Opinion on Medicare-for-All

KFF/AP Survey Probes Rural Voters’ Economic Anxieties Heading into the Midterm Elections

KFF Health Tracking Poll: MAHA and the Midterms

Views on Prescription Drug Costs: Regulation, Affordability, TrumpRx

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.

Costs and Other Barriers to Care Can Worsen Health For Adults With Multiple or Complex Health Conditions

Health Care Access and Affordability for Adults with Multiple or Complex Health Conditions: A Snapshot of Patient Experiences

Promotional image for KFF video Health Care Unaffordability at the Macro Level

Health Care Costs Keep Rising … Why and Who Pays?

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.

Small Businesses Could See Double-Digit Premium Increases in 2027, According to Insurers’ Preliminary Rate Filings

How Much and Why Premiums Are Going Up for Small Businesses

Nearly 300 insurers offering offering health coverage to small businesses reported a median proposed premium increase of 14% for 2027, according to an analysis of preliminary rate filings from all 50 states and DC.