Americans who depend on employer-sponsored health insurance paid more for their coverage this year, with employees at small businesses and their employers hit particularly hard by surging costs, according to a new survey from healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

The 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, published on Thursday, found that covered workers paid hundreds of dollars more toward premiums compared to last year. The financial burden was most pronounced for staff at small firms employing 10 to 99 workers, who typically shoulder a larger share of insurance expenses than those at larger corporations.

Escalating healthcare expenses have surfaced as a major issue for voters in the midterm elections as part of broader affordability concerns. An AP-NORC poll conducted in October revealed that roughly 7 in 10 registered voters rank healthcare as "one of the most important issues" in this election.

Nearly 157 million Americans under retirement age depend on employer-sponsored healthcare plans.…