Healthcare bills are sharing the top spot with gas at the front of voters' economic stress list. In KFF's Tuesday release, about six out of ten respondents reported being worried to some degree about paying for care, a level of concern that outpaced food, utilities and housing. Nearly half said it is "extremely important" for candidates to address healthcare costs, and most want to hear concrete plans to bring prices down. Voters across parties also signaled that the U.S. healthcare system needs significant reform.
Shannon Schumacher, a co-author of the poll and senior survey analyst with KFF, said, "With about a month to go before Election Day, our latest poll finds that healthcare costs are weighing heavily on voters' minds and is driving home that this recent election is all about affordability."
While Schumacher noted that Republicans have generally scored better than Democrats on the economy in past polling, KFF's latest numbers show voters today, including independents, giving Democrats the edge on both healthcare and overall cost of living. In the survey, 42% said Democrats would do a better job handling healthcare costs, compared with 22% who picked Republicans. The poll included 1,328 U.S. adults surveyed in mid-September.
Support for a national health plan remains high. Two-thirds favored a Medicare-for-All approach, the strongest backing since KFF began asking in 2016. That breaks down along party lines: by party, support split as follows: roughly 84% of Democrats plus 72% of independents favored it, while 66% of Republicans opposed.
What voters say is squeezing them usually predicts what policy targets next. Market Briefs covers the cost of living free every morning.
Recent shifts are adding to sticker shock. Enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplaces fell by roughly four million this year after Congress declined to renew enhanced subsidies. Enrollees in ACA plans now face costs that are 20% higher than 2025, and premiums are projected to climb by double digits next year.
Florida has become a flashpoint after seeing the biggest drop in ACA sign-ups of any state. Another policy change - the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted last year - is projected to strip coverage from at least 10 million people by 2034, primarily because of Medicaid-related shifts. And it is not just government plans feeling pricier: small-group carriers have sought 14% premium hikes for 2027, the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker reports.
Healthcare costs can hit your monthly budget like a surprise car repair, and voters are clearly bracing for more. Higher insurance premiums, fewer subsidies, and a push for broad reform all point to medical bills staying front of mind. If your premiums or out-of-pocket costs jump, that is less cash for savings goals and everyday spending, which is exactly why this issue is showing up at the ballot box.
Healthcare costs are becoming as politically potent as fuel prices. Get the free Market Briefs daily newsletter and follow the shift.
