The Commonwealth Fund recently released its 2026 State Health Disparities Report, offering an important look at racial and ethnic differences in health care access, quality, and health outcomes across the country. The report provides timely data and insights to inform ongoing efforts to improve health equity and strengthen access to care for underserved communities. One finding that stands out is the continued impact of healthcare costs on access to care. Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), and Black adults remain the most likely to report going without needed medical care because of cost. After several years of improvement, national rates of cost related barriers to care are beginning to rise again, serving as are minder that affordable access to care remains a critical issue for many communities.

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Learn more: Commonwealth Fund 2026 State Health Disparities Report