Healthcare has reclaimed its place as Americans’ top domestic concern, with 61% of adults saying they worry “a great deal” about its availability and affordability, according to a new Gallup poll released on Tuesday.

The poll comes as the U.S.–Iran war intensified in March, now in its fifth week, with energy prices spiking to over $4 per gallon. Rising costs for gas and other essentials are adding to household financial pressures, reinforcing why Americans are highly concerned about healthcare affordability.

Overall, national anxiety has eased slightly, with the share of Americans worried "a great deal" across 16 issues falling to 43% in March 2026 from 46% a year earlier, the lowest level since just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve's decision in mid-March to hold interest rates at 3.50%–3.75%, alongside its projection of slightly higher inflation at 2.7% for the year, underscores that even modest price pressures, compounded by energy and healthcare costs, are influencing household budgets and economic sentiment.

Partisan divides remain sharp. Republicans cite illegal immigration (55%) as their top concern, while 80% of Democrats point to healthcare. The decline in overall concern is driven largely by Republicans, whose average worry has dropped from 53% in Biden's final year to 30% now that Trump is in his second year. Democrats' concern remains elevated at 51%.

The Financial Toll

These concerns are translating into real financial strain. About 82 million Americans, roughly one-third of the population, have cut back on basic expenses like gas and utilities to pay for medical bills. Nearly 24 million adults have delayed retirement because of healthcare costs, while 18% have put off changing jobs. About 25% of people earning between $90,000 and $120,000 a year say they've had to make financial trade-offs to afford care.

Hospitals And Businesses Feel The Squeeze

Pressure is building at the industry level. Nearly 450 hospitals are at risk of closing or cutting services due to more than $900 billion in proposed Medicaid and CHIP cuts under Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Bank of America (BofA) Securities estimates hospitals could face a 2–4% annual EBITDA headwind over the next five years, with Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) and Ardent Health (NYSE:ARDT) among the most exposed. On the corporate side, billionaire Mark Cuban warns that soaring healthcare costs, which roughly $30,000 per family annually are driving layoffs and slowing hiring. He has backed bipartisan efforts to break up vertically integrated healthcare giants such as UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), and The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), arguing the current system inflates costs across the economy.

Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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