As the 2026 U.S. midterm elections approach, health care affordability is increasingly shaping up as a central economic concern for voters, rather than a standalone policy topic. In a recent JAMA Viewpoints column, KFF analysts Drew Altman, Ashley Kirzinger, and Mollyann Brodie examine how rising medical costs have become intertwined with broader financial anxieties, influencing electoral dynamics. n nThe authors note that debates over extending the Affordable Care Act’s expiring enhanced tax credits have gained heightened significance, particularly if Congress fails to act on consumer cost increases. This issue is expected to carry substantial weight into the upcoming election cycle. Additionally, proposed reductions to Medicaid funding—despite being phased in gradually—are likely to resonate strongly with voters, reflecting deep concerns about access to essential health services. n nThe shift in perception underscores how health care is now viewed through an economic lens, with households evaluating insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and coverage stability as critical components of financial security. This evolving narrative positions health policy not just as a matter of public health, but as a determinant of household economic well-being. n nWith health care costs continuing to outpace inflation in many areas, the issue is poised to influence voter behavior, campaign messaging, and legislative priorities in the lead-up to 2026. n
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As the 2026 Election Takes Shape, Health Care Is Becoming an Economic Issue for US Voters
In this JAMA Viewpoints column, KFF’s Drew Altman, Ashley Kirzinger and Mollyann Brodie explore the power of health care affordability as an economic issue, how it has played out in recent election cycles, and the implications for the 2026 midterm elections. The column notes how health care increasingly has become a dimension of voters’ economic worries rather than a stand-alone issue, which explains why the debate about whether to extend the Affordable Care Act’s expiring enhanced tax credits has so much salience now that could continue into the midterms if Congress does not strike a deal to address rising costs for consumers. It also explains why Medicaid cuts will have power as an issue even though the cuts will be phased in over time.