Editorial selection · Lives & Places
The State of Health Insurance Coverage in 2026 — Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey
Selected by Dylan Ratigan.
Article summary
The Commonwealth Fund's 2026 survey reports 46% of working-age adults were inadequately insured: 11% uninsured, 12% with a coverage gap during the year and 23% underinsured. The share who delayed or avoided care because of cost rose from 46% in 2022 to 50% in 2026.
The report examines how coverage design translates into practical access to care, including cost-related avoidance and underinsurance among people who technically hold a policy.