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COSTS and Affordability

A Preview of the Role Health Care May Play in the 2026 Election

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, this KFF issue brief examines the role health care has played in previous elections and what that may suggest about its potential role in 2026. KFF polls have consistently found that the cost of health care is an important part of voters’ economic concerns.

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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  • 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…

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

    Other Post

    Kaiser/Harvard National Survey of Americans' Views On Consumer Protection In Managed Care Public Supports Broad Range Of Proposals For Federal Consumer Protection In Managed Care, But Potential Consequences Raised By Critics Also Hit Home Embargoed for release until: 9:30 a.m. ET, Wednesday, January 21, 1998 For further information contact: Matt James or Tina Hoff Access to Specialists Public's Number One Consumer Protection Priority Washington, DC -- As the debate over regulation of the health care…

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

    Report

    A survey of 1,204 adults on Americans' views on consumer protections and government regulation of managed care and the President's "Consumer Bill of Rights." The survey was conducted for the Foundation and Harvard University by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Additional questions were asked as part of a national omnibus telephone survey of 1,012 adults between January 8-12, 1998. TOPLINE Download CHARTPACK Download NEWS RELEASE Download

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Princeton Survey Research Associates Study of Media Coverage of Managed Care: January 1990 – June 1997

    Poll Finding

    An analysis of media coverage (both print and broadcast) of managed care, from January 1 1990 to June 30, 1997. The study found that early coverage focused on managed care as a business story, and later years focused more on patient care and concerns about backlash. Overall, the media was found to be neutral in its coverage of managed care, although network TV and special series in newspapers were mostly critical. TOPLINE Download CHARTPACK Download…