Health Care Newsletter

Health costs still a top voter concern, poll finds

by Joseph Choi - 04/29/26 6:41 PM ET

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by Joseph Choi - 04/29/26 6:41 PM ET

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Health Care

The Big Story

Poll shows health costs driving voter concerns

Health costs continue to top the public’s list of affordability worries, and while Democrats have an edge over Republicans, both parties need to do more to convince independents, according to a new poll from health policy research group KFF.

About nine in 10 voters said the issue of health costs will influence their decision to vote and who to vote for in the 2026 midterm elections, with majorities saying it will have a “major impact” on both areas.

While majorities of voters across parties said health care costs will impact their vote in November, the issue was more pressing for Democrats and independent voters.

Overall, voters did not give very high marks to the Trump administration. One-third of voters (33%) approve of the administration’s handling of the cost of health care while two-thirds (67%) say they disapprove — including 45% who say they “strongly disapprove.”

Six months out from the midterm election, voters gave the Trump administration low approval marks on its handling of the cost of health care. Only a third of those polled said they approve of the administration’s efforts, while two-thirds said they disapprove — including 45 percent who said they “strongly disapprove.”

But that number is also impacted by partisanship — among independent voters, only about a quarter said they approve of the administration’s handling of the cost of health care.

One area Republicans and the administration have an advantage over Democrats with independent voters is on addressing fraud and waste in government health care programs — an issue that’s a key part of the GOP messaging strategy.

But at least half of independent voters said they don’t trust either party to address fraud or health costs.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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Around the Nation

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