Public Opinion

Health Costs

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.

Poll: Prescription Costs Regulation, Affordability and TrumpRx

KFF’s Health Tracking Poll finds that most Americans (59%) are worried about affording prescription drugs and support more regulation of prescription drug pricing (72%). Looking ahead to the midterm elections, the Democratic party currently holds the advantage for who voters trust to address health costs, including prescription drugs.

ACA Marketplace Survey Feature Image - Website

Survey: ACA Enrollees’ Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes

This follow-up survey of adults who had ACA Marketplace insurance in 2025 examines enrollees' cost concerns and coverage changes after the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits. It finds 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 Information and Trust

Dashboard: Polling on Health Information and Trust

Drawing on KFF’s poll findings, this interactive dashboard tracks the public’s trusted sources for health information, attitudes toward vaccines, and use of news, social media, and AI for health-related information.

Recent Polls

The Public’s View of Immigration Enforcement in Health Care Settings

Amid reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at hospitals and President Trump’s reversal of policy protecting “sensitive locations” like hospitals, KFF’s Health Tracking Poll finds that a majority of the public say they are concerned about the Trump administration’s actions in health care settings.

Knowledge and Views of Medication Abortion

This KFF Health Tracking Poll finds that many, including women of reproductive age, remain unfamiliar with key facts about mifepristone. Fewer than half of all adults say they believe abortion pills are safe now, compared to over half of all adults two years ago. This poll explores awareness and perception of the recent FDA review of the medication, and support for policies aimed at restricting it.

KFF-Washington Post Survey Explores Parents’ Trust In, and Confusion About, Childhood Vaccines

The KFF-Washington Post partnership Survey of Parents explores experiences and views pertaining to childhood vaccines. The Survey of Parents also sheds light on school vaccination requirements, views on federal health agencies and policy changes, and the views of parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This poll comes as the Trump administration revamps federal policies, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to question the childhood vaccine schedule.

KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants

KFF-New York Times Survey: Immigrants Report Rising Fear, Negative Economic and Health Impacts, and Changing Political Views During the First Year of President Trump’s Second Term

The 2025 Survey of Immigrants, a partnership between KFF and The New York Times, takes an in-depth look at the experiences of immigrants during the first year of President Trump’s second term, including their worries related to increased immigration enforcement, their health and economic wellbeing, and the political views and preferences of immigrant voters. The survey paints a portrait of families under strain — where fear of detention and economic instability are negatively impacting immigrants’ health and reshaping immigrant families’ daily lives and views of U.S. political parties.

Read the News Release | Explore The New York Times’ Reporting

the essentials

Health Tracking Poll

Our signature survey project provides up-to-date data on the public’s health care views, knowledge, and experiences.

Survey Question Finder

Search all KFF polls since 1992 by keyword and date to find full question wording and results.

Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll

The Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll is part of KFF’s Health Information and Trust Initiative, which tracks health misinformation and analyzes its impact on the public.

Polls in Health Policy

This chapter of our digital “textbook” explores why surveys are essential for understanding health policy issues. 

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1,351 - 1,360 of 1,833 Results

  • NEJM Article Finds That Health Care Is Not Playing A Major Role In 2006 Congressional Elections, But Could Be A Factor In Selected Close Races

    Poll Finding

    Embargoed for release until:Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 5:00 p.m. ET For further information contact:Craig Palosky, KFF, (202) 347-5270 Robin Herman, HSPH, (617) 432-4388 NEJM Article Finds That Health Care Is Not Playing A Major Role In 2006 Congressional Elections, But Could Be A Factor In Selected Close Races Voters Trust Democrats More Than Republicans On List Of Many Health Issues A New England Journal of Medicine article to be published November 2 finds that health…

  • National Survey of Pharmacists 2006: Full Topline Results

    Poll Finding

    National Survey of Pharmacists 2006: Full Topline Results These toplines provide additional findings from a 2006 national survey of pharmacists on their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. Toplines (.pdf)

  • National Survey of Physicians 2006: Full Topline Results

    Poll Finding

    National Survey of Physicians 2006: Full Topline Results These toplines provide additional findings from a 2006 national survey of physicians on their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. Toplines (.pdf)

  • Data Note: Voters Views of the Economy: What’s Health Care Got to Do With It?

    Poll Finding

    Voters frequently cite the economy as a key issue in determining their preferences in any given election. At the same time, many people report that they are very worried about the rising costs of health care, naming it as a top personal concern. This Public Opinion Data Note focuses on how much the two points are related, and to what extent concerns about health care costs drive impressions about the economy as a whole. When…

  • New  England Journal of Medicine Article: Voters and Health Care in the 2006 Election

    Poll Finding

    New England Journal of Medicine Article: Voters and Health Care in the 2006 Election A New England Journal of Medicine article finds that health care is not likely to play a major role in the November 2006 Congressional elections but could still be a factor in selected close races. This article, by Harvard School of Public Health Professor of Health Policy Robert J. Blendon, Sc.D, and Kaiser Family Foundation President Drew E. Altman, Ph.D., analyzes…

  • Additional Findings from the National Surveys of Doctors and Pharmacists

    Poll Finding

    Two Kaiser Family Foundation national surveys of doctors and pharmacists examine additional findings on their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. The topics covered in the surveys include views and experiences with medical errors and quality issues, use of health care information technology, prescription drug advertisements, views on Medicaid provisions, doctors' willingness to see Medicaid and Medicare patients, and physicians' views of conscience-clause provisions. The Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey…

  • Health Poll Report Survey: Voters on Health Care and the 2006 Elections

    Poll Finding

    This October 2006 survey examines voters' views and worries on health care and other issues in advance of the midterm Congressional elections. Overall, nearly half (46%) of voters say they are "very worried" about having to pay more for their health care or insurance, putting health care costs at the top of voters' personal worries. However, when asked to name the most important election issue, 30% of polled voters identified Iraq as the their top…

  • Summary: Health Poll Report Survey: Voters on Health Care and the 2006 Elections

    Poll Finding

    This Kaiser Health Poll Report Summary examines voters’ views and worries on health care and other issues in light of the upcoming November 7, 2006, Congressional elections. The nationally representative telephone survey was conducted between Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 among 1,052 registered voters. It was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Summary (.pdf)

  • Toplines: Health Poll Report Survey: Voters on Health Care and the 2006 Elections

    Poll Finding

    These toplines contain the detailed results from a survey examining voters' views and worries on health care and other issues in light of the upcoming November 7, 2006, Congressional elections. The nationally representative telephone survey was conducted between Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 among 1,052 registered voters. It was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Toplines (.pdf)