KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs and the Midterms Authors: Audrey Kearney, Mardet Mulugeta, Alex Montero, Isabelle Valdes, Lunna Lopes, and Ashley Kirzinger Published: Apr 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-and-the-midterms/?utm_campaign=KFF-Polling-Surveys&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--YJA3kQN9mto5LyFGiQw7S-W00SqYH2_daDND-ghp2Kfibz1bUrCmz8nM_2SCYL6xd8nzA8xbcqJV863VrNudtxzOC_Q&_hsmi=416352232&utm_content=416352232&utm_source=hs_email Poll: The Cost of Health Care Remains at the Top of the Public’s List of Economic Concerns, Even as Concerns About Gas Prices Climb Majorities Say Health Costs Will Influence Their Vote and Voters Favor Democrats on the Issue, with Republicans Holding an Advantage on Addressing Fraud and Abuse Health care costs continue to top the public’s list of economic anxieties, even as fuel prices and economic uncertainty rose following the start of the Iran war, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, including three in ten who say they are “very worried.” The same share (64%) are worried about gasoline or other transportation costs, up from about half (52%) in January. Underscoring these concerns, nearly half of insured adults (46%) say that lowering out-of-pocket costs is their most-wanted change to their health insurance. Additionally, majorities of voters say health care costs will have a “major impact” on their decision to vote (55%) and which party’s candidate they support (61%). While the poll finds that voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to address both health care costs (37% vs. 26%) and prescription drug costs (33% vs. 26%), voters are more likely to trust Republicans on the issue of fraud and waste in government health care programs (34% vs. 26%)—an issue on which the Trump administration has been particularly engaged. Media Contact: Tammie Smith | 202-654-1410 | TammieS@kff.org