Florida Leads the Nation in Health Care Worry, New Study Finds

If you’re feeling the pinch from medical bills, you’ve got plenty of company in Florida. A recent analysis by telehealth company NiceRx ranks the Sunshine State as the most stressed in the country when it comes to health care costs. Residents here now pay an average of $8,831 a year for employer-sponsored insurance, and out-of-pocket expenses have jumped 41% over the past decade.

The study looked at uninsured rates, annual employee contributions, and online searches for health plans to measure anxiety. 6%. The state also logged 913 health insurance-related searches per 100,000 people between April 2025 and March 2026, more than three times the national search rate.

NiceRx says that high search volume suggests many Floridians are actively hunting for cheaper alternatives.

A separate KFF survey from February found that two-thirds of Americans now rank health care costs as a bigger worry than housing or food. Rob Stranksy, president of NiceRx, noted that rising premiums and coverage gaps force people into tough decisions, especially those managing chronic conditions like obesity, where medications such as GLP-1s can be effective but expensive.

South Carolina ranked second for health care stress, followed by Alabama, California, and Kansas. At the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota residents reported the least anxiety over medical costs.

For those feeling the strain, the key takeaway is clear: Florida’s health care landscape is putting serious pressure on household budgets. Whether through employer plans or the individual market, many are left searching for options that won’t break the bank. As the data shows, the worry isn’t just about today’s bills, it’s about what comes next.