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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

In 2024, life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 79 years but remained years behind the average in comparable countries

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.

NHE explorer

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

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  • Women and Health Care: A National Profile – Report

    Report

    Report - Women and Health Care: A National Profile Women and Health Care: A National Profile is a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,766 women ages 18 and older. A shorter companion survey of 507 men was also conducted. Full Report (.pdf) Report Highlights (.pdf) Introduction and Methods (.

  • Why Did the Number of Uninsured Continue to Increase in 2005?

    Issue Brief

    This paper examines health coverage trends in 2005 and places them in the context of trends occurring since 2000. The paper concludes that despite the improving economy, the percentage of the population with employer-sponsored insurance continued to decline while the number of the uninsured continued to increase. Issue Brief (.

  • Chartpack: National Survey of Enrollees in Consumer-Directed Health Plans

    Poll Finding

    This chart pack provides data and analysis from the National Survey of Enrollees in Consumer-Directed Health Plans conducted between June 21 and July 10, 2006. The survey looks at the views and experiences of people enrolled in consumer-directed health plans as compared to people with traditional health insurance. Chartpack (.

  • The Public and the Health Care Delivery System — Toplines

    Poll Finding

    These toplines from a survey by NPR and researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health highlight the public's attitudes and experiences with the American health care delivery system.

  • Survey of Consumer Experiences in Managed Care – News Release

    Other Post

    New Survey Offers Insight Into Experiences of Managed Care Consumers Majority of Sacramento Managed Care Consumers Report No Difficulty with Their Plan, But Over a Quarter Had Problems For Immediate Release:Wednesday, November 19, 1997 Contacts:Heather Balas,Kaiser Family Foundation, (650) 854-9400 Katie Salvas,Sierra Health Foundation, (916) 922-4755 Magdalena Beltran-del Omo,The California Wellness Foundation, (818) 589-6600 Lauren…

  • External Review of Health Plan Decisions in the States and Medicare – Report

    Report

    External Review of Health Plan Decisions:An Overview of Key Program Features in the States and Medicare External Review of Health Plan Decisions:An Overview of Key Program Features in the States and Medicare Prepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation by:Karen Pollitz, M.P.P., Geraldine Dallek, M.P.H., and Nicole Tapay, J.D.