A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association highlights a significant disconnect between employees' desire to improve their health and the financial barriers they face. The survey found that 95% of U.S. employees are actively trying to improve their health and well-being, yet 50% report that healthcare costs have made it difficult to pay for day-to-day expenses, including food, childcare and rent. Additionally, 47% say they have stopped or decreased their retirement contributions to afford healthcare costs and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized the severity of the issue: "No one should have to skip buying groceries or halt their retirement savings to cover medical expenses." According to a 2026 Business Group on Health survey, large employers anticipate a median 9% increase in healthcare costs this year before cost-reduction measures. This trend underscores the need for systemic changes to healthcare affordability.
The American Heart Association recently issued a Presidential Advisory warning that healthcare affordability in the U.S. has reached crisis levels. The advisory outlines five core principles: access to high-quality care without financial hardship; minimal or no-cost-sharing for high-value, cost-effective care, including preventive services; shared accountability across the healthcare ecosystem; strategic investments in the healthcare workforce, infrastructure and data; and strengthening public health infrastructure to address health inequities.
Beyond costs, the survey identified other key barriers to employee health: managing work-life balance (36%), finding time (30%), and parenting and caregiving responsibilities (23%). The vast majority of employees (92%) agree that their health and well-being should be supported in how they work day-to-day, not just through policies or programs, and 93% want company leaders to set a good example regarding work-life balance.
The survey was conducted February 26 – March 12, 2026, among 2,001 employees aged 18+ who work full or part time for companies with 25+ employees and are enrolled in employer-provided health plans. Data were weighted to be representative of the U.S. employee population. The sample data is accurate to within ± 2.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
For more information, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.
