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. 

Subscribe to KFF Emails

Choose which emails are best for you.
Sign up here

Filter

1,791 - 1,800 of 1,833 Results

  • Getting Behind the Numbers on Access to Care – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    Getting Behind the Numbers on Access to Care Project Randomly-Selected Verbatim Responses Harvard School of Public Health, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago October 1996 Methodology Note: Survey respondents who reported that they were uninsured and/or had problems getting needed medical care or paying medical bills in the past year were asked the following question during their interview: I would like you to tell me in your…

  • Getting Behind the Numbers on Access to Care

    Report

    A national telephone survey, conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Opinion Research Center, of 3,993 randomly selected U.S. adults between February and April 1995. The questions probed for three events in the prior year: an episode of being uninsured, problems getting medical care, and/or problems paying medical bills. The 1,234 adults (31% of respondents) who said they had at least one of the three…

  • Getting Behind the Numbers on Access to Care

    Other Post

    Insurance Status:Insured PeopleProblem Group:Getting Needed Medical CareSelf-rating of Severity of Consequences:Very or Somewhat SeriousSexAgeResponseMale22Fungus on my foot, coverage at my work did not cover it because it was not preventative care. Pretty uncomfortable, could tell it was not a normal infection. Went to store bought stuff, medication, over the counter.Female32It affects me physically and mentally. I am tired all the time.Male38Conscious of a lot of pain and discomfort for about 3 weeks. But doctor made…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Field Institute Survey of Californians on the Health Care Initiatives, Propositions 214 and 216 – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    Kaiser Family Foundation/Field Institute survey of Californians on the Health Care Initiatives, Propositions 214 and 216 August 14-21, 1996 September 23-30, 1996 Questionnaire and Toplines 1. Are you currently covered by medical insurance or some other form of government or private health plan that will pay all or part of your doctor bills or hospitalization should you require it? August 1996 September 1996 Yes, covered 81% 82% No, not covered 19% 18% Don't know *…

  • Survey of Americans and Economists on the Economy – Toplines/Survey

    Poll Finding

    The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Survey Project is a three-way partnership and an experiment in combining survey research and reporting to better inform the public. The Post, Kaiser, and Harvard jointly design and analyze surveys examining public knowledge, perceptions, and misperceptions on major issues. The Post then reports the results as well as the facts to dispel myths and correct misperceptions. We hope this project contributes to a better understanding of public knowledge on…

  • Kaiser/Harvard Health News Index, October 1996

    Poll Finding

    The October 1996 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Health News Index includes questions about major health issues covered in the news, including questions about Teen Drug Use, RU486, Hospital Stays for Mothers and Mental Health Coverage. The survey is based on a national random sample of 1,008 Americans conducted October 11-15, 1996 which measures public knowledge of helth stories covered by news media during the previous month. The Health News Index is designed to…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/Field Institute Survey of Californians on the Health Care Initiatives, Propositions 214 and 216

    Report

    Results of two surveys that track Californian's knowledge of the two initiatives on the California Ballot, Propositions 214 and 216 (also known as the Patient Protection Acts) and attitudes towards them as the debate unfolds. The surveys were conducted from August 14-21, 1996 and from September 23-30, 1996. Also included with this material is data on how much is being spent on television advertising for and against the propositions and who is being reached by…

  • Kaiser/Harvard Health News Index, August 1996

    Poll Finding

    The August 1996 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Health News Index includes questions about major health issues covered in the news, including questions about Medicare, the Tobacco Industry, AIDS and Abortion. The survey is based on a national random sample of 1,0003 Americans conducted August 5-7, 1996 which measures public knowledge of health stories covered by newsmedia during the previous month. The Health News Index is designed to help the news media and people…

  • Kaiser /Harvard Survey of Americans on Health Policy

    Poll Finding

    A telephone survey of 1,011 adults (between June 20 and July 9, 1996) about how health care reform (specifically Medicare reform, MSAs and the Kassebaum/Kennedy bill) fits into the upcoming November election. The survey was designed by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard University, and Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRA). The survey was conducted by PSRA. The The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent. The survey data was released at a press briefing…

  • Covering the Epidemic: AIDS in the News Media, 1985-1996

    Report

    Media Coverage Of AIDS: Broad-Based, Consistent Over Past Decade Focus Shifts, However, From Science/Medicine to Celebrity-Oriented Embargoed for release until: 9:00 a.m. E.T., Wednesday, June 26, 1996 Contact: Matt James or Tina Hoff Washington, D.C. -- Media coverage in the U.S. of AIDS over the past decade has generally remained broad-based and consistent, emphasizing prevention and protection and avoiding becoming overly politicized, although focusing almost entirely on the epidemic as a domestic concern. However, while…