Rising medical expenses are becoming one of the biggest financial concerns for Americans, with a new national survey showing widespread anxiety over the cost of health care and growing support for major changes to the nation’s health insurance system.

The latest KFF Health Tracking Poll found that 60% of voters are worried about their ability to afford health care, including 25% who are very worried and 35% who are somewhat worried.

The findings come as families continue to struggle with the rising costs of medical treatment, prescription drugs, insurance premiums and other household expenses. With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, health care affordability has emerged as one of the issues voters most want elected officials to address.

According to the survey, 82% of voters consider health care costs either very or extremely important for candidates to discuss, second only to the overall cost of living, which was identified by 90% of respondents.

“Of all the cost-of-living worries hitting voters now, a big health care bill is the least predictable, and that’s a big reason why health care costs are right up there with gas prices and the costs of food and housing on voters’ minds,” said KFF President/CEO Dr. Drew Altman.

Unlike many routine household expenses, medical bills can arrive unexpectedly, leaving families facing difficult financial decisions. Even individuals with health insurance may encounter significant out-of-pocket costs when seeking treatment.

The survey also revealed broad dissatisfaction with the current health care system, cutting across political party lines.

Nearly nine in 10 Democrats, 89%, and more than three-quarters of Republicans, 77%, said the nation’s health care system needs either major changes or a complete overhaul.

That dissatisfaction has contributed to increasing interest in proposals to expand health coverage, including a national health insurance program commonly known as Medicare-for-All.

KFF found that 66% of Americans now favor the concept, the highest level of support recorded by the organization since it began tracking the issue in 2016.

Support was strongest among Democrats, with 84% favoring the proposal, followed by 72% of independents. Among Republicans, approximately two-thirds opposed the idea.

However, researchers found that public opinion shifted considerably depending on how the proposed system was described.

When respondents were told Medicare-for-All would make health insurance a right, support increased to 76%. Similarly, 75% expressed support when told the program would eliminate insurance premiums and out-of-pocket cost-sharing.

Support declined sharply when respondents heard arguments about potential disadvantages.

Only 24% continued to support the proposal when told it could result in delays for medical tests and treatments. Support fell to 35% when respondents were told it could require higher taxes, and 38% when presented with concerns about its potential impact on the existing Medicare program.

These findings illustrate the challenges policymakers face in developing health care reforms that address affordability while maintaining access to medical services.

The survey also examined which political party voters trusted more to handle rising health care costs. Democrats held a 42% to 22% advantage over Republicans, an increase from the 11-percentage-point advantage recorded in April.

Among independent voters, 38% expressed greater confidence in Democrats on health care affordability, compared with nine percent who favored Republicans. However, many independents said they trusted neither party.

While political disagreements remain over how health care should be financed and delivered, the poll suggests substantial agreement that the current system is not adequately meeting Americans’ needs.

For households already balancing the costs of housing, groceries, transportation and other necessities, medical expenses represent another source of financial uncertainty.

The KFF survey was conducted September 16–21, 2026, among 1,328 U.S. adults, including approximately 1,013 voters. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points for the full sample and four percentage points for voters.

As discussions about health care reform continue, the findings highlight a central concern shared by Americans across political and economic backgrounds: the need for affordable medical care without the risk of overwhelming financial hardship.