Health Care Affordability Survey Results

This report presents findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2023 Health Care Affordability Survey, which gathered data from a nationally representative sample of working-age U.S. adults aged 19 to 64. The survey focused on respondents' ability to afford health insurance and health care, as well as the impact of health costs on their household budgets. Among the 3,032 participants who had employer-sponsored health coverage, over half reported difficulties in affording health care. The report outlines various policy options aimed at improving health care affordability, including adjusting premiums based on income, enhancing state regulations on employer plans, and reforming the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to strengthen coverage. Additionally, it highlights the financial burdens faced by individuals, such as medical debt and the percentage of income spent on health care, emphasizing the need for both public and private sector interventions to address rising health care costs.