Rising Healthcare Costs May Change How Patients Use Clinical Lab Testing
A new KFF Health Tracking Poll shows healthcare costs are now the top economic worry for U.S. households—raising concerns that patients may skip screenings or shop more aggressively for lab tests, reshaping utilization and revenue patterns in 2026.
Healthcare costs are now the top economic concern for US households—and that anxiety is likely to ripple directly into clinical laboratories, according to a new KFF Health Tracking Poll released January 29.
Roughly one-third of the public (32%) say they are “very worried” about their ability to afford healthcare, a higher share than those most concerned about food, housing, utilities, or transportation. More broadly, 56% expect healthcare to become less affordable for their families in the coming year, signaling sustained pressure on patients’ willingness and ability to engage with the health system.
For clinical laboratories, that concern translates into two distinct, and potentially competing, patient behaviors.
Rising Costs Could Reshape Patient Testing Behavior
In one scenario, patients worried about out-of-pocket costs may delay or skip preventive screenings and fail to follow through on physician-ordered diagnostic testing. KFF found that about one in five respondents said their healthcare costs have risen faster than basic necessities like utilities or groceries. That perception alone can be enough to discourage patients from completing tests they view as optional, even when those tests are clinically indicated.
Photo credit: Image by Andreas Breitling from Pixabay.
In another scenario, cost-conscious patients may still pursue testing but do so more selectively. Rather than abandoning care altogether, these patients may “shop around,” comparing prices, turnaround times, and service offerings across clinical laboratories. This trend could increase demand for clearer test pricing, stronger patient-facing communication, and more transparent billing practices—areas where some labs may find both challenges and opportunities.
The poll also suggests that cost concerns are not confined to any single demographic or political group. Healthcare costs ranked as the top economic worry among Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike. More than four in ten voters (44%) say healthcare costs will have a “major impact” on whether they vote in the upcoming midterm elections, underscoring how personally felt the issue has become.
Policy Shifts Add New Pressure to Coverage and Affordability
Recent policy changes may be amplifying these anxieties. Congress allowed enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to expire, a move that two-thirds of the public (67%) say was “the wrong thing” to do. The expiration is expected to increase premium payments for many marketplace enrollees, potentially leaving patients with less discretionary income for lab testing and other medical services.
While most Americans still view the ACA favorably—58% overall—that support has softened since last fall, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about coverage stability and affordability. For labs, fluctuations in insurance coverage can complicate reimbursement, increase patient self-pay balances, and add friction to pre-test counseling and billing workflows.
Taken together, the findings point to a year in which clinical laboratories may see uneven test utilization patterns. Some patients may disappear from the testing pipeline altogether, while others arrive armed with questions about cost, necessity, and alternatives.
As financial anxiety increasingly shapes patient decision-making, labs that can clearly communicate value—clinical relevance, quality, speed, and cost transparency—may be better positioned to maintain trust and test volume in an environment where affordability is front of mind.
—Janette Wider
