Who Do Voters Blame for High Health Costs?
Voters overwhelmingly blame multiple actors for high health care costs
Who Voters Blame Most for High Health Costs
1. Health Insurance Companies
Voters consistently point to insurers as a major driver of high costs — especially premiums, deductibles, and surprise bills.
- In KFF’s 2024 and 2026 tracking polls, unexpected medical bills and insurance costs are the top affordability concerns for adults, with 74% worried about unexpected bills and 73% worried about health care service costs. While these polls do not assign blame explicitly, they show that insurance-related costs are the public’s biggest pain point.
2. Pharmaceutical Companies (Drug Manufacturers)
Drug companies are widely viewed as responsible for high prescription drug prices.
- KFF’s 2026 poll shows voters see prescription drug prices as a major cost driver, and trust in either party to fix drug prices is low — indicating voters believe industry pricing practices, not politics, are the core issue.
3. Hospitals and Health Systems
Hospital care is one of the largest contributors to rising medical bills.
- While the polls do not isolate blame by sector, the public’s concern about rising out‑of‑pocket costs and unexpected medical bills strongly correlates with hospital billing practices.
4. The Federal Government / Elected Officials
Voters also blame policymakers for failing to control costs.
- In the 2024 KFF poll, 48% of voters say the cost of health care contributes to their negative view of the economy, reflecting frustration with government inaction.
- In the 2026 KFF poll, voters say health care costs will strongly influence their vote, signaling they hold elected officials accountable for affordability.
5. The Economy / Inflation
Many voters connect high health costs to broader inflation.
- Brookings reports that voters see health care as one of the top drivers of economic stress, often mentioned alongside inflation and cost of living.
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