Health Costs

Affordability and Spending

Beyond the Data: Are the Tradeoffs from Prior Authorization Worth It?

In his latest column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman asks if prior authorization review could be eliminated entirely, discussing how it might be done and the tradeoffs. He writes “Nothing makes American health care consumers more frustrated using the health system than prior authorization review. I know because they told us that, ranking prior authorization review far ahead of any other problems they have getting care and navigating the health care system, including getting appointments and understanding their bills.”

Public Views on Prescription Drug Costs: Regulation, Affordability and TrumpRx

Eight Trends Shaping 2026 Health Care Costs

The ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ Leaves Open Questions for Pre-existing Conditions

Policy Changes Bring Renewed Focus on High-Deductible Health Plans

Affordable care act

Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms

Heading into this midterm election year, the cost of health care tops the public’s economic anxieties, and more than 4 in 10 voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Two thirds of public say Congress "did the wrong thing" by not extending ACA enhanced tax credits, but Republicans largely say Congress “did the right thing.”

ACA Signups Are Down, But Still an Incomplete Picture

Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Affordable Care Act

ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Without Enhanced Tax Credits

Higher Premium Payments or Higher Deductibles: Examining the Tradeoffs ACA Enrollees Face

Many Marketplace enrollees are choosing between plans that charge higher premium payments and plans with higher deductibles. The tradeoffs of switching health plans are being considered following the expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025.

State-Based Efforts Will Provide Limited Relief from Enhanced Tax Credit Expiration

Health System Tracker

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.

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 Do Health Expenditures Vary Across the Population? Five percent of the population made up nearly half of all health spendings, pending an average of $72,918 annually in 2023.

National Health Spending Explorer: Get up-to-date information on U.S. health spending by federal and local governments, private companies, and individuals.