Healthcare affordability remains a broad US household issue, with insurance coverage alone not always shielding working-age adults from high medical costs today.
Researchers warned recent federal policy changes could add uninsured adults, while employer cost shifting may make affordability challenges harder for families nationwide.
For 2026, higher premiums have pushed some consumers to skip coverage, as marketplace signups lag and some consumers stop premium payments altogether.
Premium pressure also affected other coverage types; private family coverage and employer coverage both saw increases for ~20% of insured families nationwide.
Experts cautioned higher premiums and cost sharing can make people less secure, especially when families avoid needed care because of costs alone.
