Americans in state of ‘economic anxiety,’ with healthcare topping list of worries: KFF
Americans are experiencing a high level of economic anxiety, but top the list of concerns—surpassing the rising cost of food, housing, utilities and transportation—was healthcare, including the price of insurance premiums and out-of pocket expenses.
According to data from a recent KFF survey, 66% of the public, irrespective of political leanings, say they are worried about being able to afford healthcare costs for themselves and their families. Further, 55% of all participants said the price has gone up for them over the last year, with healthcare outpacing other necessities.
Those who affirmed that costs were rising were the majority regardless of how they get their care covered: 64% of those insured through work said their overall healthcare expenses have risen, as did 66% of those who purchased their own coverage—including those who used government exchanges made possible by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Even most Medicare enrollees (53%) said their overall payouts for supplementary insurance, copays, prescriptions and more have only gone up since the beginning of 2025.
To make matters worse, 56% of overall respondents said they expect the cost of insurance, drugs and medical bills to only rise heading into next year—meaning, most aren’t expecting help from the federal government anytime soon.
A cost of living crisis
The authors of the KFF Health Tracking Poll, a regular study conducted by public opinion researchers at the policy nonprofit, noted that Americans are in a state of “economic anxiety,” concerned about the overall cost of living—a fear that began before President Donald Trump was reelected in 2024 and took office in January 2025.
“One year into the second term of President Trump and less than ten months before the 2026 midterm elections, the public remains concerned about the top issue of the 2025 election—the economy,” the authors led by Shannon Schumacher, senior survey analyst at KFF, wrote. “Eight in ten (82%) adults say their cost of living has increased in the past year, including half who say it has increased “a lot.” Very few say their cost of living has “decreased” either “a little” (4%) or ‘a lot’ (1%), while about one in ten say their living expenses have remained stable over the past year.”
“Many adults, regardless of partisanship, say their cost of living has increased “a lot” in the past year, including a majority of (56%) Democrats, about half (53%) independents, and four in ten (41%) Republicans,” they added.
While the number of those who said they are “very worried” about affording healthcare came in highest at 32%, those equally concerned with affording food weren’t far behind (24%). Further, 23% of all respondents said they are “very worried” about paying their rent or mortgage, followed by 22% who ranked utilities equally as high. Rounding out the bottom, 17% of those surveyed said they are “very worried” about the cost of transportation, including public transit, gasoline and car maintenance.
The KFF poll was conducted from January 13-20, 2026, both online and by telephone. A nationally representative sample of 1,426 people participated.
The full results can be found by clicking here.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.