Most Americans experiencing higher health insurance premiums, concerned about affordability in 2026
Two-thirds of Medicare and commercially insured patients report premium increases
A recent national poll from the PAN Foundation’s Center for Patient Research finds that most Americans (59 percent) experienced an increase in health insurance premium costs in 2026, with 2 in 5 (41 percent) seeing an increase of 10 percent or more compared to the previous year. And people enrolled in Medicare (66 percent) and with commercial insurance (69 percent) saw even higher rates of health insurance premium increases in 2026.
Other findings
- More than half of Americans with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage (55 percent) had their prescription drug plan premium costs increase in 2026 compared with 2025.
- Over half of Americans (54 percent) are concerned about their ability to continue to afford their monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
- This includes 1 in 5 (21 percent) who are very concerned.
- More than 4 in 10 Americans (43 percent) spend 10 percent or more of their income on health insurance premium costs.
“This new polling reinforces the affordability challenges people are facing when it comes to their health insurance premiums,” said Amy Niles, Chief Mission Officer at the PAN Foundation. “If people can’t afford their health insurance, they often go without the care they need and deserve. Or, they are forced to make difficult decisions between affording their care and other living expenses, such as rent, food, or utilities. This is why the PAN Foundation offers financial assistance funds to specifically help patients afford their health insurance premiums.”
Niles added, “It’s also why we have supported extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, which expired at the end of 2025. Because we know when you are facing a serious or chronic health condition, worrying about how you’re going to pay for your care should be the last thing on your mind.”
Resources
Polling methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States between January 15 – 20, 2026, among 2,097 adults (aged 18 and over), including 605 who self-report being a Medicare/Medicare Advantage beneficiary and 1,019 as having commercial health insurance, by The Harris Poll on behalf of PAN Foundation via its Harris On Demand omnibus product. Data were weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income, and political party affiliation, to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within ± 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including, but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.
About the PAN Foundation
As a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, the PAN Foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most and empowering patients on their healthcare journeys. We provide critical financial assistance for treatment costs, advocate for policy solutions that expand access to care, and deliver education on complex topics—all driven by our belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, equitable healthcare.
Since 2004, our financial assistance programs have helped more than 1.3 million people to start or stay on life-changing treatment. In addition, we’ve achieved major policy victories that increase access to care, mobilized patient advocates to call for change, and educated people nationwide on critical healthcare-related topics. We’re committed to working towards a future where equitable health outcomes are a reality for all. To learn more, visit panfoundation.org.