KFF polling has long shown that many U.S. families struggle to afford health care and how costs shape decisions about whether and when to seek care. In the past year, worries about costs have intensified, with the cost of health care topping the public’s list of economic anxieties. Even adults with health insurance report difficulty affording health care, and many say they have health care debt. These concerns have implications for people’s access to care, health and well-being, and financial security.

While previous KFF polling has examined the public’s experiences with health care costs, sample size limitations have made it difficult to examine the experiences of adults with serious or complex health conditions. The KFF Survey of Health Access and Caregiving helps fill this gap with a large, nationally representative sample of 25,873 adults, including 16,677 who say they have received treatment for at least one health condition in the past year. The survey’s large sample size makes it possible to examine the experiences of adults with specific conditions including cancer, lung disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions, while also allowing for analysis by other demographics like age and insurance coverage.

The KFF Survey of Health Access and Caregiving was a series of questions designed and implemented by KFF with the SSRS Opinion Panel Mega-Omnibus. The survey was conducted May 4 – May 26, 2026, online and by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 25,873 U.S. adults in English (n=25,422) and in Spanish (n=451).