A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association reveals that 95% of U.S. employees are actively trying to improve their health and well-being, yet half report that healthcare costs have made it difficult to pay for day-to-day expenses such as food, childcare, and rent. The findings underscore a critical tension between employee health aspirations and financial constraints.
The survey, which polled 2,001 employees enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans, found that 47% have stopped or decreased their retirement contributions to afford healthcare costs and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This trend highlights how healthcare affordability is forcing difficult trade-offs, as employees prioritize immediate medical needs over long-term financial security.
“No one should have to skip buying groceries or halt their retirement savings to cover medical expenses,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. The organization emphasizes that employers play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. 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, prompting business leaders to seek comprehensive support and systems-level change for workforce well-being.
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, preventive services; shared accountability across the healthcare ecosystem; strategic investments in workforce and data; and strengthening public health infrastructure to address inequities.
Beyond costs, the survey identified other barriers to employee health: managing work-life balance (36%), finding time (30%), and parenting or caregiving responsibilities (23%). The vast majority of employees (92%) agree that 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 model work-life balance.
The findings come as more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults express confidence in the American Heart Association to provide trustworthy public health information, according to a poll by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center. The organization continues to advocate for affordable, accessible care, partnering with employers to drive change.
