Cost of Healthcare is Public’s Top Economic Concert

KFF Health Tracking Poll Results are in

Summary of the key points from the KFF Health Tracking Poll:

• Health care costs are the top economic worry: 66% of the public worries about affording health care, surpassing concerns about food and utilities. More than half (55%) report their health care costs increased in the past year, with 23% saying costs rose faster than other necessities.
• Expectations for worsening affordability: A majority (56%) expect health care costs to become less affordable in the coming year, a concern shared across partisan lines but especially strong among those with employer-sponsored or self-purchased insurance.
• Impact on 2026 midterm voting: Health care costs will have a “major impact” on the voting decisions of two-thirds of Democratic voters and more than four in ten independent voters, making it a pivotal issue for the upcoming elections.
• Democrats hold an advantage on health care trust: Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle most health care issues, including overall health care costs (a 13-point lead). However, no party has a significant advantage in addressing the broader cost of living, with low confidence in both parties and President Trump on that front.
• Public opposes expiration of ACA tax credits: Two-thirds (67%) of the public believe Congress did the “wrong thing” by not extending the enhanced ACA premium tax credits when they expired on January 1st. This sentiment cuts across party lines, though blame assignment differs.
• Declining Republican favorability toward the ACA: While overall favorability for the ACA and its marketplaces remains high, it has dropped significantly among Republicans since September 2025, falling from 59% to 41% for the marketplaces and seeing a similar decline for the law itself.
• Tax credit expiration influences voter behavior: Among those who buy their own insurance, two-thirds say the expiration of the tax credits will impact their vote. This is a stronger motivator for Democrats and independents than for Republicans.