Unexpected Medical Bills Top Californians' Financial Worries
The CHCF Weekly. February 3, 2026 California Health Care Foundation
For many Californians, the question is no longer whether health care is affordable — it's what they're giving up to pay for it. Our 2026 California Health Policy Survey reveals the depth of that trade-off.
Unexpected medical bills are now the No. 1 financial worry, surpassing rent and groceries. Seven in 10 Californians say health care costs strain their household budget, and half say expenses have grown faster than their income.
And that burden is not shared equally: 40% of Latino/x Californians cut back on groceries or essentials to cover health care costs — double the statewide rate. In the Rural North, nearly 7 in 10 say costs are outpacing their income, more than any other region.