A Note on How the War in Iran May Affect Health Care in the Midterms Author: Drew Altman Published: Mar 23, 2026

https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/a-note-on-how-the-war-in-iran-may-affect-health-care-in-the-midterms/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yJgLKy1glwL0j4k5RgNwdFlOAHEC2c2nC1uN9GiOkf5Fu2Ey0lUHkoZiO1EBMXXZy54eM0e2dFadJRQ0icQUIJ01XrA&_hsmi=410959967&utm_content=410959967&utm_source=hs_email Recently, we saw health care costs rise to the top of the public’s list of economic worries, ahead of food, housing, utility costs and the cost of gas. I have long argued that voters see health primarily as a dimension of their economic concerns and that polls that rank it separately miss the mark, but we have seldom seen it at the top of the list of economic worries. It was propelled there by the debate about extending the ACA tax credits and the media attention that gave to health care affordability generally. Expect gas prices to rise and health care costs to fall on the list of affordability worries while the war in Iran lasts. Then health costs will return to the top or near the top of the list of economic worries when President Trump decides to declare the major hostilities over, the Strait of Hormuz is open, and gas prices come down.