Healthcare Affordability Top of Mind for Midterm Voters

Community Catalyst #VoteLikeHealth campaign finds voters bringing insurance coverage and affordability to the voting booth

BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In the weeks since the launch of the Vote Like Your Health Depends On It campaign (#VoteLikeHealth) by Community Catalyst, the nation's leading health advocacy organization, voters have been taking the #VoteLikeHealth pledge, sharing their personal stories, and identifying which healthcare issues will be top of mind when they enter the voting booth.

"Voters across the country are making it clear that healthcare affordability, accessibility and accountability are on the ballot," said Shaina Goodman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Community Catalyst. "It is clear that every candidate, regardless of party, should be prepared to face their constituents and have commonsense solutions to rising premiums, high out-of-pocket costs, and increasing bureaucratic red tape keeping people from seeing a doctor or getting the care their doctor recommends."

Informal polling was conducted of voters participating in the campaign asking their top three healthcare issues. These rose to the top:

• The cost of insurance premiums – 61%
• Protecting Medicaid insurance – 57%
• Out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles – 44%

This reinforces polling conducted by Community Catalyst last year which found that healthcare, particularly the cost of healthcare, is a growing concern for people across the political spectrum. The same polling found 73% of people want the government to play a greater role in regulating and managing healthcare, particularly in reducing costs and ensuring universal access, including over two-thirds of self-identified Republican voters.

Through the campaign, people are also sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on the healthcare system:

Lisa in Louisiana

"This election season I want our elected officials to speak to the devastation that we are witnessing — the gutting of our public health system, undermining trust in medical science, allowing healthcare costs to bankrupt millions of households, while healthcare facilities all over the country close."

Carole in Georgia

"I am a retired healthcare executive who dedicated my career to providing care to the poor and uninsured. I saw first-hand how much human potential was wasted by this country because of our incredibly cruel and inefficient healthcare policies."

Paul in New Hampshire

"Providing health care for profit doesn't make a lick of sense to me - it provides a strong incentive for profit over good/great outcomes."

Along with concerns about our current system, many people are sharing their visions for our future:

Cathy in South Carolina

"My vision is a country of healthy people because our elected representatives are doing their job and creating the avenues to put a concrete plan into action that honors the health of 'we the people.'"

Loria in Mississippi

"Quality healthcare for everyone - insured, uninsured, and under insured. Healthcare without fear of retribution or follow up visits because credit will be destroyed, no money for co-pay or high deductibles, bills for necessary labs and or choosing one prescription over another."

From now until Election Day, the #VoteLikeHealth campaign will continue to equip voters with the materials and means to uplift the three main pain points people encounter in the healthcare system and demand from their representatives in government a clear plan for fixing them:

• Is your healthcare affordable? Not just the co-pays and deductibles and bills, but the stress, time, travel, and impossible choices that come with getting care. How much is it really costing you?
• Is your healthcare accessible? Can you use your coverage when you need it? Does it cover the things you need like your teeth, mental health or birth control?
• Is your healthcare accountable? Does it work for you, or do you work for it? Are you dealing with denials, red tape or surprise bills?

Media Contact

Jack Cardinal, Community Catalyst, 1 7819605208, [email protected], communitycatalyst.org

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/healthcare-affordability-top-of-mind-for-midterm-voters-302887258.html

SOURCE Community Catalyst