It’s not news that healthcare costs in the United States are skyrocketing. Our country spends more per capita on health care than any other of the 37 high-income countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Health insurance is the main mechanism by which we offset those costs for consumers. But since Congress failed to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired in December, health insurance premiums for millions of Americans rose overnight — many to more than double their previous rates.
It makes sense, then, that two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they worry about being able to afford health care for themselves and their families — ranking health care costs higher than other big-ticket items like food, utilities, gas and even housing, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
New KFF report reveals Americans are worried about health care costs
Although healthcare costs topped the list, more than four in five KFF respondents (82%) said their overall cost of living had increased over the past year. And 50% of respondents said it had increased “a lot”.
And in the categories where those costs have risen — broken down between health care, food and groceries, housing costs, monthly utilities and fuel or transportation costs — health care tops the list of Americans’ budget concerns. About 66% of respondents said they were worried about paying for health care, with nearly a third (32%) agreeing that they were “very worried”. By comparison, only 24% of Americans are “very worried” about food and grocery prices, the next highest category.
Overall, more than half of respondents (55%) said their health care costs have risen in the past year, although some vary along party lines: 58% of Democrats say their health care costs have risen, compared to 51% of Republicans. (Still, even among parties that support the current administration, that’s more than half.)
Even more Americans, 56%, say they expect their health care costs to become less affordable as the year progresses. (For this question, the partisan difference is even clearer: 68% of Democrats expect less affordability, compared with 46% of Republicans.)
Unsurprisingly because of the end of subsidies, those under 65 who purchased their insurance themselves — perhaps through the ACA marketplace — are more likely to say their costs have risen, and expect even less affordability in the coming year.
A majority of Americans — 67% — also agree that Congress made a “mistake” by deciding not to extend the ACA tax credit, a percentage that rises to 87% among Democrats and drops to 37% among Republicans.
Health insurance costs are rising, but you can still find ways to pay less
It’s just the simple truth: For many Americans, health care costs are rising. Still, there are some factors within your control to help keep costs down.
For starters, if you’re able to secure health care through an employer plan, you may pay less than those who purchase health insurance on the marketplace (aka Obamacare) If you need to purchase a Marketplace plan, Compare quotes can help you find the best policy for your needs at the lowest possible monthly premium — although the average cost of a silver plan now Over $700. This is 21% more than in 2025.
Taking good care of yourself can reduce your risk of some health concerns. For example, drinking alcohol increases the risk Many types of cancerwhen exercise And eating well can fight disease.
In addition to taking care of ourselves, we need to take care of each other. The votes count — and three-quarters of KFF respondents said health care costs will affect their upcoming midterm votes.
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This post was Previously published on VALUEPENGUIN.COM.
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