Voter Concerns Over Health Care Expenses and Fraud in Government Programs
Health care expenses remain a primary concern among voters as the midterm elections approach, according to a recent KFF Health Tracking Poll. The survey reveals that more than half of Democratic and independent voters consider health care costs a crucial issue for electoral candidates to address. Concurrently, the Trump administration's focus on AI-driven prior authorization delays and efforts to tackle alleged fraud in government health programs has gained traction among Republican voters, a majority of whom express that discussing fraud in these programs is significant.
Voter Opinions on Government Health Program Fraud
The poll indicates that voters perceive varying levels of fraud across different government sectors. A significant proportion of voters believe that substantial fraud exists in the federal tax system, military and defense contracts, and foreign aid programs. However, perceptions of fraud in Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces are relatively lower. Notably, Republican voters show heightened concern about fraud in ACA Marketplaces compared to other groups.
The administration has linked the decline in ACA enrollment to their anti-fraud measures, rather than changes in tax credit enhancements. A partisan divide is evident in perceptions of fraud within Medicaid and Medicare, with Republican voters more likely to suspect widespread fraud than their Democratic and independent counterparts.
Responsibility for Fraudulent Activities
Voters across the political spectrum tend to attribute health program fraud primarily to health care providers rather than patients. About half of the voters in each group believe providers are primarily responsible, though a significant portion remains uncertain about the main perpetrators.
Federal Fraud Actions in Medicaid
The Trump administration has undertaken extensive initiatives to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid across all states, with measures including deferment of federal Medicaid payments. Actions have predominantly impacted Democratic-led states. Public opinion on these measures is mixed, with many voters concerned about adverse effects on beneficiaries and the potential for politically motivated targeting of states.
The poll results show that voters prioritize access to care for Medicaid recipients over aggressive fraud prevention, even if it leads to some fraud. Republican voters are evenly divided on whether fraud prevention should take precedence, potentially affecting service access. A significant majority of voters express concern that deferred Medicaid payments could limit low-income individuals' access to health services.
Perceptions of Political Motivation
Most voters believe that political motivations underlie the Medicaid deferral strategy, with significant differences in opinion along partisan lines. Additionally, the electorate is evenly split on whether delaying federal funding effectively reduces fraud, and only a minority anticipate it will reduce overall health costs.
The KFF survey, conducted from June 25 to June 30, 2026, included 1,321 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of three percentage points for the full sample.