New poll shows health care is top priority for Americans going into 2026

A new poll shows Americans are focused on health care needs and costs in 2026.

As Medicaid cuts take effect and some federal health subsidies are set to expire this year, a growing number of people see addressing health care as a priority for the government in 2026, a survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs found.

Nearly 4 in 10 respondents said that health care was among their top five issues.

Other top issues included immigration and the cost of living.

Americans between the ages of 45 and 59 were most focused on health care access, according to the poll.

Congress is expected to vote on extending some pandemic-era subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act in January.

But any vote would come too late to stop sharp increases in many Americans’ out of pocket health care costs. In 2026, many people on Affordable Care Act plans will see premium costs double after subsidies expire Dec. 31, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In Alabama, hospitals, churches and nonprofits, in addition to individual consumers, say their bottom line will be hit hard by rising health care costs.