New Poll: Californians Prioritize Healthcare Affordability and Access

A statewide survey finds widespread concern about healthcare costs, persistent barriers to care, and strong support for policies that make healthcare more affordable and accessible.   

New statewide polling commissioned by The California Endowment and conducted by FM3 Research finds that healthcare affordability and access are among California voters’ top priorities for the governor-elect. The survey reveals how economic pressures are shaping Californians’ experiences with healthcare and what they want state leaders to do about it.  

Affordability is shaping Californians’ priorities  

More than half of voters (56%) say California is on the wrong track, with cost of living, inflation and affordability the most frequently cited problems facing the state (30%). Nearly half (46%) report just getting by or struggling financially, a figure that rises to 53% among younger voters and Latino voters.   

Against this backdrop, 80% of voters prioritize reducing healthcare costs for the governor-elect, placing it alongside homelessness (80%) and housing and rent costs (79%). The concern crosses racial and ethnic groups, including 83% of Latino voters and 84% of Asian/Pacific Islander voters.   

Cost and capacity create barriers to care  

While 79% of voters say they and their families are getting the healthcare they need, significant challenges remain. More than half report worrying about paying for care even with insurance (56%) or experiencing long wait times (54%). High insurance premiums are a challenge for 61% of voters.   

Californians also want a healthcare system that prioritizes prevention and makes care easier to access. 86% prioritize helping patients prevent health problems, while 78% prioritize access to basic healthcare, 76% prioritize mental and behavioral health services, and 76% prioritize making it easier to find a healthcare provider.  

Voters support concrete solutions to lower costs and improve access  

The poll reveals overwhelming support for specific policies that make healthcare more affordable and accountable:  

• 93% support negotiating lower prescription drug prices.  
• 93% support holding health plans and hospitals accountable for how they use public funds.  
• 86% support requiring large employers to contribute toward the cost of Medi-Cal coverage when they do not provide health coverage to low-wage workers who are eligible.  
• 78% support prioritizing health services in communities with the greatest need.  

Support for lowering prescription drug prices and increasing accountability crosses party lines, with at least 88% affirming both policies among Democrats, independents and Republicans.   

Broad support for protecting coverage and ensuring access  

Three-quarters (76%) of voters agree that California has a responsibility to ensure all Californians have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. Support remains substantial (62%) when the statement explicitly includes people regardless of immigration status. Additionally, 73% support guaranteeing healthcare access regardless of ability to pay.  

62% also support California’s current policy of providing Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians of low-income regardless of immigration status, up from 56% in 2025. With federal and state funding changes threatening coverage, 61% express significant concern about cuts affecting services for California’s most vulnerable patients.  

Together, these findings underscore Californians’ desire for a healthcare system that lowers costs, protects coverage and ensures people can access the care they need.   

About the poll: FM3 Research surveyed 810 California voters from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4, 2026. The margin of sampling error is ±3.5 percentage points for the full sample and ±4.9 percentage points for half-sample questions, at the 95% confidence level.