Most ACA enrollees cutting back on food, household needs to pay for health care: Poll

March 20, 2026 - 00:41

A new national poll paints a stark picture of the financial strain facing many Americans who rely on health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. The survey indicates that a little more than half of all ACA enrollees have been forced to cut back on spending for fundamental necessities, including food, clothing, and other basic household items, simply to afford their health care coverage and out-of-pocket medical costs.

This difficult trade-off highlights the ongoing challenge of health care affordability, even with the subsidies and consumer protections provided under the ACA. While the law has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Americans, the poll suggests that for many families, premium payments, deductibles, and copayments continue to consume a burdensome portion of their monthly budgets. The data underscores a reality where accessing essential medical care comes at the direct expense of day-to-day well-being and financial stability for a significant portion of marketplace participants.

The findings are likely to fuel further policy debates about the structure of health care subsidies and cost-sharing requirements. Advocates argue that more must be done to lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums to prevent health care from forcing families into making impossible choices between their physical health and their economic security.