High health care costs hurt Californians every day. Millions can’t afford the care they need. More than half of all Californians skip or delay getting care because it costs too much.

CHCF’s body of work on affordability tracks trends and identifies the systemic drivers of high health care costs, documents the impact on Californians, and lifts up policy solutions.

On this page, explore CHCF’s latest research, commentary, and storytelling to help you better understand what’s causing California’s health care affordability crisis and what we can do about it. 

Essential Resources on Health Care Costs

Illustration of home health aide helping elderly woman in her kitchen.

The 25% Problem: Why Health Care Is So Expensive (And What We Can Do About It)

Health care costs hurt Californians every day. Millions can’t afford the care they need. More than half of all Californians skip or delay getting care because it costs too much. How did we get here?

Understanding California’s Affordability Crisis: The 25% Problem

CHCF’s Kristof Stremikis and Anne Sunderland break down some of the reasons why health care costs in California are so high and what California is doing about it.

Recently Published

Illustration of a Doctor's arm giving a prescription to the California State Capitol
Blog
Expert Perspective

California Health Reform Requires Us to Take the Long View

Piggy bank with stethoscope draped around it.
Resource
Almanac

National Health Spending Almanac — 2026 Edition

Crowd of people enjoying a sunny day at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA.
Resource
Regional Market Report

Los Angeles — Regional Market Report 2026

Patient and Doctor at West County Community Clinic
Resource
Almanac

Californians with Low Incomes Almanac — 2026 Edition

Downtown shopping area in the Inland Empire region of California
Resource
Regional Market Report

Inland Empire — Regional Market Report 2026