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COSTS and Affordability

KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs and the Midterms

This KFF poll finds that health care costs continue to top the public’s list of affordability worries, even as concerns about gas prices have risen in recent weeks, with two-thirds of the public expressing worry over affording health care costs. Majorities say health costs will influence their vote this election. Voters favor Democrats on the issue, while Republicans hold an advantage on addressing fraud and abuse.

Affordable care act

ACA Marketplace Survey Feature Image - Website

Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees

This KFF survey is a follow-up survey of adults who had ACA Marketplace insurance in 2025. The survey examines the cost concerns and coverage changes of Marketplace enrollees following the end of the enhanced premium tax credits and finds that half of returning enrollees say their health care costs are “a lot higher” and most expect to cut back on basic household expenses to afford coverage.

Health System Tracker

What Are the Recent Trends in Employer-Based Health Coverage? Employer-sponsored health insurance is the largest source of health coverage for people under 65, but its reach is uneven.

How Does U.S. Life Expectancy Compare to Other Countries? The life expectancy gap between the U.S. and peer countries decreased from 4.1 years in 2023 to 3.7 years in 2024 as U.S. mortality dropped.

How Does Cost Affect Access to Health Care? In 2024, about 1 in 6 adults reported delaying or not getting healthcare due to cost, including medical or mental health care.

How Does Health Spending in the U.S. Compare to Other Countries? While the U.S. still spends the most in total dollars, eight OECD nations had a higher percentage increase in per-person health spending in 2024.

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  • Benefits and Costs of Consumer Protection Proposals in California: An Analysis of Selected Recommendations of the California Managed Care Task Force

    Report

    This report assesses the potential impact of selected recommendations of the Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force in the areas of access to care and specialists, information disclosure, and dispute resolution. The Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force was established in 1998 to inform state leaders about the health industry in California; the impact of managed care on quality, access, and cost of care; issues of special concern to consumers; and the appropriate role of…

  • Impact of Potential Changes to ERISA: Litigation and Appeals Experience of CalPERS, Other Large Public Employers and a Large California Health Plan

    Report

    The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) currently preempts state law related to the wrongful denial or delay of health benefits to the extent that such laws relate to a health benefit plan sponsored by a private employer. This report examines the frequency, nature and costs associated with the appeals and litigation that state and local governmental employers have experienced. Information was gathered through multiple telephone interviews with individuals with extensive involvement in administrative appeals…

  • Estimated Costs of Selected Consumer Protection Proposals: A Cost Analysis of the President’s Advisory Commission’s Consumer Bill of Rights

    Other Post

    Leading Health Care Consumer Protection Proposals Would Result In Modest Premium Increases for HMOS New Cost Analysis of Consumer Protections:Major Provisions of President's Consumer Bill of Rights and PARCA Estimated to Raise Premiums by Less Than 1% Embargoed for release until: 9:00 a.m., EDT, Wednesday, April 22, 1998 For further information contact:Chris Ferris (202) 347-5270or Matt James (650) 854-9400 Washington, DC - A new independent cost analysis finds that the premium increases likely to result…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University School of Public Health:  Update on Americans’ Views and Experiences in Managed Care

    Poll Finding

    Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University School of Public Health: Update on Americans' Views and Experiences in Managed Care The Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University School of Public Health: Update on Americans' Views and Experiences in Managed Care is based on findings from the April 1998 Kaiser Harvard News Interest Index. The survey was designed and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University. Nationwide interviews were conducted by telephone with 1,201 adults, 18 years…

  • Understanding Individual Health Insurance Markets

    Other Post

    : Structure, Practices, and Products in Ten States New Study of Individual Health Insurance Market: Major Barriers Identified in Individual Health Insurance Market for People with Health Problems. Rates and Regulations Vary Across Ten States Studied Denials, Waiting Periods, and High Premiums Pose Problems for Pre-Medicare Population For Immediate Release Tuesday, March 17, 1998 Washington, DC - For many people who have health problems or who are approaching the age of retirement, coverage through the…

  • For-Profit Health Care Companies: Trends and Issues – Fact Sheet

    Poll Finding

    The rapid growth of managed care has brought with it a growing connection between the stock market and health care organizations. Health care services have evolved from being delivered by physicians and tax exempt institutions to a market-driven industry attracting investment capital from numerous sources. The market capitalization, or total stock value, of the relatively young HMO industry grew from a little over $3 billion in 1987 to almost $39 billion in 1997 - an…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Americans about Health Care and the Stock Market

    Poll Finding

    A survey on Americans' perceptions of healthcare stocks and the differences between for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations. A fact sheet including data on financial trends from the past decade is included. This survey was released at a briefing held jointly by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Press Foundation for journalists on February 11 entitled Do Falling Stocks Mean Failing Care? Trends and Implications of Wall Street's Declining Healthcare Stocks. The event is part…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University National Survey of Americans’ Views on Consumer Protection in Managed Care

    Other Post

    Kaiser/Harvard National Survey of Americans' Views On Consumer Protection In Managed Care 33. Earlier in this interview, you said you oppose a law requiring health plans to...(Insert--Read And Rotate). Would you still be opposed if health plans could decide for themselves whether to follow this practice, rather than be required by law? (Record Response) You also said you oppose a law requiring health plans to...(Insert Next Item) Would you still be opposed if health plans…