A recent Gallup poll revealed that healthcare access and affordability have become the leading domestic issue for Americans, with 61% of respondents expressing significant worry about rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums, surpassing all other policy areas surveyed [1]. This marks a resurgence in healthcare's prominence as a top concern, a position it last held in 2020 and previously maintained since 2015. The issue now leads by 10 points over the economy, which was roughly tied in 2025 [1].
A Fox News poll corroborates these findings, indicating that 81% of voters are either 'extremely' or 'very' concerned about healthcare, trailing only inflation and high prices, which concern 86% of voters [1]. The concern spans political affiliations, with 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 72% of Republicans reporting high levels of worry about healthcare. Age-wise, 77% of respondents under 45 and 83% over 45 share these concerns, including 86% of those aged 65 and up [1].
The heightened anxiety is attributed to rising health insurance premiums, which have increased this year following the expiration of pandemic-era enhanced subsidies. The Affordable Care Act's premium tax credits, which subsidize insurance for lower- and some middle-income households, were temporarily boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Trump administration and Congress allowed these enhanced subsidies to expire at the end of last year, resulting in higher premiums for consumers [1]. For the 2026 plan year, only the baseline tax credit remains, leading to smaller subsidies. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, annual out-of-pocket premium payments are expected to rise by over $1,000 this year, jumping 114% from $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026 [1].
Health insurance companies have also been raising premiums for non-Obamacare plans, a trend attributed to increasing healthcare costs. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicates that consumers have shifted toward lower-cost health insurance plans during the 2026 open enrollment period compared to the previous year. In 2025, 56% of enrollees were in silver tier plans, while 30% were in bronze tier plans [1].
CONCLUSION
Healthcare costs and insurance premiums have become the foremost domestic concern for Americans, driven by the expiration of enhanced subsidies and rising premiums. The widespread worry across political and age groups signals significant market and policy implications, with consumers increasingly opting for lower-cost insurance plans. This trend is likely to influence future healthcare policy debates and insurance market dynamics.