Medical Fundraising and the Future of Healthcare
Many Americans recognize the importance of health benefits but don’t realize that insurance doesn’t always financially protect individuals from all of the costs that can accompany a serious illness, injury or disability. Those additional expenses can turn an unexpected medical challenge into a financial crisis.
Help Hope Live sought to quantify this disconnect and explore how insured Americans view their financial preparedness for a medical crisis, as well as their awareness, perceptions and consideration of medical fundraising.
In May 2026, the organization worked with Researchscape International to survey 1,244 American adults (18+) with health insurance or benefits and an annual household income of at least $25,000. Click here to see the results.
Press Release:
Americans May Overestimate Health Insurance’s Ability to Prevent a Financial Crisis
Serious Medical Challenge Can Bring Significant Costs Insurance Won’t Cover
Full Survey Report:
Beyond Health Insurance: An American Study on Financial Preparedness and Medical Fundraising
Explore the complete survey findings, including Americans’ confidence in their health benefits, financial preparedness for a medical crisis, and attitudes toward medical fundraising:
Key Survey Findings:
How confident are insured Americans that their health benefits will protect them from a financial crisis?
According to Help Hope Live’s 2026 Medical Fundraising and the Future of Healthcare Study, 57% of insured Americans are very or extremely confident that their medical benefits would help prevent a medical challenge from becoming a financial crisis.
What medical and related expenses are insured Americans less confident their insurance will cover?
Help Hope Live’s 2026 study found that insured Americans were least confident their coverage would pay for temporary lodging or travel for medical treatment (28%), home modifications for wheelchair accessibility (30%), wheelchair-accessible vehicles (30%), and experimental medications or therapies (30%). Confidence was also relatively low for caregiving (35%) and long-term rehabilitation (37%).
Do insured Americans know where to turn for help with expenses their insurance doesn’t cover?
Help Hope Live’s 2026 survey suggests limited awareness of resources available to help with expenses not covered by health insurance. When asked to identify available assistance, respondents most frequently mentioned Medicaid (4%), Medicare (2%), and Aflac (2%). No single resource was widely identified, suggesting that many insured Americans may be uncertain where to seek financial assistance during a medical crisis.
What do insured Americans understand about the financial implications of medical fundraising?
Help Hope Live’s 2026 study revealed significant uncertainty about the financial implications of medical fundraising. Nearly half of insured Americans (48%) were unsure whether funds raised through medical fundraising are always tax-free for the recipient, while 44% were uncertain whether fundraising could affect eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
How willing are insured Americans to ask their community for help with medical expenses?
According to Help Hope Live’s 2026 survey, 31% of insured Americans would be completely or very likely to ask their community for financial help with medical expenses, while 23% would be somewhat likely. Nearly half (46%) would be hardly or not at all likely to seek assistance. Factors that could make respondents more comfortable asking for help included knowing their need was urgent and unavoidable (39%) and knowing their community had helped others in similar situations (33%).
Press Contact:
Nysha King – Ink Noire Communications
610-200-2491