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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  • Kaiser Health Policy News Index: November 2014

    Feature

    The Kaiser Health Policy News Index is designed to help journalists and policymakers understand which health policy-related news stories Americans are paying attention to, and what the public understands about health policy issues covered in the news. According to this month’s index, the public remains captivated by news coverage of the Ebola virus. Fewer, but still substantial shares, report following the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the results of the midterm elections.

  • Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: November 2014

    Feature

    Following the Nov. 4 midterm elections, nearly half of Americans expect increased debate between the two parties over the Affordable Care Act. In comparison, 42 percent say the amount of debate will not change, and very few (5%) say it will decrease. Conducted just prior to the start of the ACA's second open enrollment season, the poll also probes the views of people without health insurance, one of the key target groups for outreach and enrollment efforts. It finds the uninsured remain largely unaware of the renewed opportunity to purchase or enroll in health insurance through the marketplaces over the next few months.

  • Challenges to Forecasting Obamacare Enrollment for 2015

    News Release

    In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman explains why 2015 enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces is very hard to predict. All previous columns by Drew Altman are available online.

  • Assessing Americans’ Familiarity With Health Insurance Terms and Concepts

    Poll Finding

    With the approaching launch of the second open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance marketplaces and at a time when open enrollment is also happening for many job-based plans, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,292 U.S. adults to shed light on Americans’ understanding of basic health insurance terms and concepts, and to identify gaps in awareness that could lead to difficulties for some individuals as they choose new plans or use their health plans.

  • Data Note: Gearing Up For Round 2 of Open Enrollment: Some Lessons From Round 1

    Poll Finding

    As the second round of open enrollment approaches, policy makers, journalists, insurers and enrollment groups may want to keep in mind what health insurance shoppers told us about their experiences during the first open enrollment period. This data note examines selected findings from two Kaiser Family Foundation surveys that shed light on how people navigated the new options and choices available under the ACA during last fall’s open enrollment, with the hope of helping to inform our understanding of individuals needs during this second open enrollment period.

  • ACA Advertising in 2014 – Insurance and Political Ads

    Report

    This study analyzes the volume and content of political ads mentioning health care issues that aired in 2014 through Oct. 15, as well as health insurance spots promoting specific insurance products or encouraging enrollment in marketplace plans. It finds that about 14 percent of political ads in all races mention the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare or any of the law's specific provisions, mostly in a negative way.

  • Poll: Obamacare Is Not a Big Issue With Midterm Voters

    From Drew Altman

    In this column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman analyzes recent polling data on the Affordable Care Act and discusses why it will not be a significant factor in next week’s midterm election.

  • Poll: Obamacare Is Not a Big Issue With Midterm Voters

    News Release

    In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman analyzes recent polling data on the Affordable Care Act and discusses why it will not be a significant factor in next week’s midterm election. All previous columns by Drew Altman are available online.