Paying for health care is now Americans' top financial worry, KFF poll finds

January 29, 2026 / 12:40 PM EST / CBS News

Paying for health care is now Americans' top financial worry, KFF poll finds

TL;DR

  • Paying for health care is now the top financial worry for Americans, according to a KFF survey.
  • Two-thirds of Americans expressed worry about affording health care, outranking concerns about groceries, utilities, and housing.
  • Rising health care costs, including insurance, out-of-pocket expenses, and prescription drugs, are driving this concern.
  • More than half of U.S. adults reported an increase in their health care costs over the past year.
  • A majority of those surveyed disapproved of Congress letting ACA enhanced subsidies expire, with two-thirds calling it the 'wrong thing'.
  • Some Americans are considering forgoing health insurance or switching to cheaper plans with less coverage due to cost increases.