Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey

Health care affordability remains a persistent challenge for many Pennsylvania residents. Findings from the Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey (CHESS) illustrate how high health care costs contribute to delayed care, financial strain, and widespread concern about affording care in the future.

This brief describes findings from a survey of more than 1,400 Pennsylvania adults, conducted by Altarum’s Healthcare Value Hub from July 9 – July 14^th, 2026, to examine experiences with health care affordability burdens, worry about affording care, medical debt, and support for policy solutions.

Key Findings Include:

• Health care affordability burdens are common: Over two in three respondents (65%) experienced at least one health care affordability burden in the past year.
• Cost leads to delayed or skipped care: Over three in five respondents (62%) delayed or went without health care due to cost in the last twelve months.
• Worries about affording care are widespread: Three in four respondents (75%) reported being worried about affording health care in the future.
• Affordability burdens are not evenly experienced: Higher rates of going without care, medical debt and related financial strain were reported by respondents with lower incomes and those with disabilities or disabled household members.
• Broad support for policy solutions: Across party lines, respondents express strong support for policy-based solutions to address high health care costs.

Together, these findings show that health care affordability is a shared challenge affecting access to care and financial security. The findings also highlight broad public support for policies that reduce cost barriers and improve access to affordable care in Pennsylvania.

Below are Data Briefs with statewide and regional survey results.

2026 Briefs

2023 Briefs

2021 Briefs

2018 Briefs