Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey

Health care affordability remains a persistent challenge for many Alaska 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 355 Alaska adults, conducted by Altarum’s Healthcare Value Hub from July 8 – August 31, 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: Nearly four in every five (79%) respondents experienced at least one health care affordability burden in the past year.
• Cost leads to delayed or skipped care: Three in four respondents (75%) delayed or went without health care due to cost in the last twelve months.
• Worries about affording care are widespread: Three in four respondents (78%) 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 Alaska.

2026 Briefs