Nearly 1 in 4 Americans Stay in Unwanted Jobs to Keep Health Insurance, Survey Finds
By: WNEWS247 Editorial Staff
Published: July 23, 2026
Nearly one in four U.S. workers say they are staying in jobs they would otherwise leave because they fear losing employer-sponsored health insurance, according to a new survey by Gallup and the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America.
The survey found that 24% of employed Americans experience what researchers call “job lock”, remaining in an unwanted job to keep health insurance benefits. That’s up from 18% five years ago, reflecting growing concerns about the cost of healthcare and the financial risks of losing coverage.
Because most working-age Americans receive health insurance through their employers, changing jobs or leaving the workforce can mean losing coverage or paying significantly more for insurance elsewhere. For many workers, that reality has become a major factor in career decisions.
A new Gallup and West Health survey found that nearly one in four U.S. workers stay in jobs they want to leave because they fear losing employer-sponsored health insurance.
Healthcare costs keep workers feeling trapped
Nearly half of workers who described healthcare as a major financial burden said they were staying in jobs they wanted to leave in order to keep their health insurance. Among those carrying medical debt, more than four in ten reported feeling similarly trapped.
Researchers also found that workers experiencing high levels of stress over healthcare costs were much more likely to remain in unwanted jobs. The findings suggest that concerns about future medical expenses, not just existing bills, are influencing employment decisions across the country.
Chronic health conditions increase the pressure
The survey found that employees with one or more ongoing medical conditions were more likely to stay in unwanted jobs than those without chronic illnesses, with the likelihood increasing further among people managing multiple conditions.
Women were more likely than men to report feeling trapped in their current jobs. Researchers said that difference may be linked to women reporting higher rates of chronic health conditions, medical debt, and financial stress related to healthcare costs.
A bigger picture
The findings arrive at a moment when healthcare affordability is already under strain nationwide. Premiums, prescription drug prices, and out-of-pocket costs have all been climbing, while some Americans have also seen changes to non-employer insurance options become less generous, which makes the idea of stepping away from a job’s health plan feel riskier than ever.
At the same time, many employers are expected to shift a larger share of healthcare costs onto workers in the coming years, a trend that analysts say could make job lock even more common.
The Gallup and West Health-Gallup Center survey was conducted among more than 3,500 U.S. adults in late 2025 and early 2026.
