Questions That Matter
A Voter's Guide to Asking Healthcare Questions
Health Guide No. 1, Published August 2026
This guide helps people ask better healthcare questions before and after Election Day, recognize when they are not receiving a direct answer, and hold decision-makers accountable for healthcare policies and commitments.
Primary audience: Patients and voters in the U.S. healthcare system.
Additional audiences: Family members and caregivers, patient advocates, community organizations, and others helping people understand and evaluate healthcare policy issues.
Read the guide belowIncludes graphics and layout.
Designed for use with assistive technology.
A Voter's Guide to Asking Healthcare Questions
Better healthcare depends on informed questions, engaged communities, and decisions that reflect people's needs.
This guide helps you ask better healthcare questions, recognize when you're not getting a real answer, and hold decision-makers accountable.
Ask Meaningful Questions
Affordability
Healthcare isn't affordable if people avoid care because they can't afford to use their insurance.
- What will you do to lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs?
- How will you reduce medical debt?
- What is your plan to make prescription medications more affordable?
- How will your policies affect deductibles, copays, and premiums?
- How will you help families facing unexpected medical expenses?
Access to Care
Having insurance doesn't always mean you can get the care you need.
- What should happen when there are no qualified in-network specialists available?
- How will you ensure people receive timely care when delays could put their health at risk?
- What will you do to improve access to mental health services?
- How will you improve access for people living in rural or underserved communities?
- How will you ensure access to medical transportation when necessary?
Consumer Protections
People deserve protections when healthcare or insurance systems fail to work as intended.
- How will you protect against unnecessary prior authorization delays?
- What protections should exist when insurance companies make administrative errors?
- What consequences should insurance companies face for improperly denying or delaying care?
- What will you do to reduce inappropriate coverage denials?
- How will you improve the appeals process for denied claims?
- How will you ensure provider directories are accurate and up to date so patients can find care?
Recognize a Non-Answer
Watch for these common strategies to avoid answering directly:
They Change the Subject
Example: You asked about prior authorization. They talk about healthcare workers.
Your Follow-up: "I appreciate that, but could you answer my question about prior authorization?"
They Describe the Problem but Not the Solution
Example: "Healthcare costs are too high."
Your Follow-up: "What specific actions will you take to address those costs?"
They Make a Broad Promise
Example: "I'll fight for patients."
Your Follow-up: "What specific policies or actions will you support to fulfill that commitment?"
They Shift Responsibility
Example: "Another level of government is responsible."
Your Follow-up: "What specifically can you do in your role to help address this issue?"
They Downplay the Impact
Example: "This isn't a widespread problem."
Your Follow-up: "What evidence supports that conclusion, and what is your plan for those who are affected?"
Keep Asking
Election Day is not the end of civic engagement. Continue asking whether healthcare commitments are translating into measurable action by asking questions such as:
- What progress has been made on your healthcare commitments?
- Which commitments have been fulfilled?
- What challenges have delayed implementation?
- How are these actions improving access to affordable, timely, and high-quality healthcare?
- What steps will you take to fulfill your remaining commitments?
- How will you measure success?
Healthcare for people who live in the real world, not in a medical chart.
Expect healthcare policies that reflect people's real lives.
Note: This guide reflects the U.S. healthcare system and is a living document that continues to evolve.
Prepared by Cynthia Overton, PhD
Additional Resources from Other Organizations
- Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker (opens in a new tab)
Explore data and analysis on how the U.S. health system is performing, including health spending, quality of care, access, and health outcomes, and compare the U.S. to other countries.
- KFF State Health Facts (opens in a new tab)
Look up more than 800 up-to-date health indicators for your state, including coverage, costs, Medicaid, Medicare, and other policy-relevant measures, to better evaluate policy proposals and campaign claims.
- Congressional Budget Office – Health Care (opens in a new tab)
Read nonpartisan analyses and projections of federal healthcare legislation and spending, including how proposed laws are expected to affect costs, coverage, and federal budgets.
Continue Learning
Keep exploring with another resource from the Center for Person-Centered Care.
Guide
Understanding How Healthcare Decisions Are Made
Learn how healthcare providers, insurers, patients, and other stakeholders each contribute to healthcare decisions and why understanding those perspectives leads to more informed conversations and decisions.
Expect healthcare decisions, policies, and systems to reflect the needs, priorities, and everyday realities of the people they affect.
The Health Guides, Visual Snapshots, and Clinical Practice Resources were reviewed by a physician for clinical accuracy and by other reviewers to improve readability, clarity, and ease of understanding.
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