R.I. – Sept. 1, 2026 – While most Rhode Islanders are satisfied with how healthcare is delivered in the state, they feel more should be done to make it more affordable to everyone, according to a new public opinion poll from researchers at the University of Rhode Island. Those high healthcare costs have led to some people not seeking recommended medical care
The fourth annual Rhode Island Survey Initiative poll—led by URI’s College of Arts and Sciences, and its Social Science Institute for Research, Education and Policy—surveyed a representative sample of 500 Rhode Islanders ages 18 and older between July 29 and Aug. 13, 2026. Administered by the polling firm YouGovopt-in survey panel of Rhode Island residents. The margin of error for the poll is +/- 5.73%
According to the poll, 36% of Rhode Islanders graded the state’s overall healthcare system as a “C,” or “satisfactory,” while 27% rated it as a “B,” or “good.” Most Rhode Islanders also feel that access to healthcare in the state is satisfactory (34%) or good (28%), and the quality of it is mostly good (37%) or satisfactory (31%)
The cost of healthcare, however, is a problem, Rhode Islanders say. This year’s poll shows that healthcare costs were the most-common worrisome household expense over groceries, gas, monthly rent and other expenses among respondents. Seventy-two percent of the poll’s respondents indicated they were either very worried (33%) or somewhat worried (39%) about healthcare costs for themselves and their families
“Every household bill we asked about gets easier as income rises, except healthcare costs. What this tells us is that for low-income households in Rhode Island, healthcare costs are one worry among several others, as budgets are stretched across a variety of necessities,” said Michael DiNardi, URI associate professor of economics and SSIREP director. “Among high income households in Rhode Island, healthcare stands alone, 17 points above any other costs we surveyed.”
More troubling is some Rhode Islanders are choosing to not seek medical help due to those rising costs. According to the poll, 29% of Rhode Islanders did not pursue doctor-recommended procedures, tests or other evaluations in the last 12 months. The most common reason? Cost
“The data show us that unaffordable healthcare costs serve as barriers to care,” said Julie Keller, URI associate professor of sociology and Rhode Island Survey Initiative lead researcher. “This is especially concerning since delaying care often leads to poor health outcomes.”
Additionally, the 89% of those polled who are covered by health insurance want to see changes to help make healthcare more affordable in Rhode Island. Forty-one percent said they want to see their respective coverages reduce out-of-pocket costs. Also, 24% said they would like to see the elimination of prior authorizations, which refers to the approval process many health insurance companies require before services, treatments or medications can be obtained.
The poll shows that 19% of Rhode Islanders with health insurance want to have greater choice in what doctors and specialists they see. In addition, Rhode Islanders surveyed overwhelmingly (44%) trust their own doctors or healthcare provider “a great deal” for reliable information about their health, more than double the share who said the same about the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (18%), Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (16%), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (15%), President Donald Trump (13%), or Rhode Island state officials (11%).
Growing support for a public medical school
Another solution favored by a growing share of Rhode Islanders is for URI to establish a medical school to train more primary-care doctors. Support for the idea rose to 82% in this year’s poll, up from 75% last year. In June, the URI Board of Trustees authorized the next phase of developing a public medical school after state leaders approved a historic $5 million investment to help the University address the state’s ongoing healthcare challenges. URI is now moving forward with key elements of the effort, including hiring a founding dean, project manager and development officer, and beginning curriculum planning.
Plus, 49% of the poll’s respondents say that Rhode Island isn’t spending enough money on improving and protecting healthcare in the state, with 62% indicating that healthcare should be a top priority for elected leaders
Along with noting healthcare costs being problematic, this year’s survey also asked Rhode Islanders about other top priorities to be addressed by state government; thoughts on the gubernatorial election; trust in the federal government; and another critical topic for Rhode Islanders: housing
This year’s poll shows that 64% of Rhode Islanders feel addressing the state’s housing crisis should be the most important priority for state elected officials, slightly higher than healthcare (62%). Eighty-two percent of respondents this year believe that the cost of housing is “somewhat of a problem” or “a big problem.”
With that, 43% of Rhode Islanders blame landlords for price gouging their tenants, and 28% say there isn’t enough investment being made toward public housing. They also feel high mortgage interest rates (25%) and rising construction material and labor costs (24%) are also causing rising housing prices in Rhode Island
Last year’s poll similarly noted that Rhode Islanders agreed housing costs in the state are worrisome—much like healthcare this year—and supported every type of housing to be built. But the respondents were split on how to fix the crisis
Building and repairing roads and bridges (37%), education (30%), crime (26%) and aiding the poor (25%) were other issues Rhode Islanders felt needed attention from state government, according to the poll.
Democrats, Republicans and Independents equally felt that housing and healthcare are the two top priorities state officials need to address. However, Republicans and Independents feel repairing roads and bridges is the third-most important issue the state needs to look at, while Democrats believe education is the state’s third-most pressing matter
Gubernatorial outlook
Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s approval rating in this year’s survey is seven percentage points higher (36%) than a year ago (29%), better than data in other recent polls about the gubernatorial incumbent. McKee’s 38% disapproval rating in this year’s poll is similar to last year’s
When asked about hypothetical matchups for this year’s general gubernatorial election, there’s more enthusiasm for Democratic challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes among overall Democrat, Republican and Independent voters. For example, Foulkes’ support ranges between 42% and 43% among registered voters in hypothetical matchups with Republican candidates Elaine Pelino and Aaron Guckian, and Independent candidate Ken Block, while McKee’s overall support is 37%
Among Independents, Foulkes’ support ranges between 20% and 21% in hypothetical matchups, while Independent support for McKee is between 8% and 10%. Republican candidates also have stronger overall support against McKee (21% for Pelino; 20% for Guckian) than against Foulkes (19% for Pelino; 17% for Guckian) in the November election
Block’s chances in November are mixed. He has similar support from overall voters against either McKee or Foulkes in the general election, according to the poll. However, his support from Independents drops dramatically against Foulkes (between 16% and 21% based on matchups) than if he is facing McKee (between 25% and 31% based on matchups)
Trust in government
Rhode Islanders’ trust in the federal government has increased slightly, from 39% having a fair amount or a great deal of trust in 2025 to 41% in 2026, according to the poll. Still, those figures are below the 54% in federal government trust that Rhode Islanders had in 2024
This year’s poll data also shows that Rhode Islanders have more trust in local municipal government, with 64% noting either a great deal or a fair amount of trust, while 59% noting either a great deal or a fair amount of trust in state government
Quality of life/economy
Rhode Islanders also feel the state’s quality of life and perceptions about the local economy are improving. This year’s poll shows that 60% of respondents feel they’re either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with Rhode Island’s quality of life, compared to 53% a year ago.
Twenty-six percent of Rhode Islanders said the state’s economy was somewhat or very strong this year, versus 22% from a year ago
Media usage
Once again, the survey shows that television is the most common way for Rhode Islanders to get their news at 54%, followed by news websites and apps (50%). Data shows that 38% of respondents get their news from social media—YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X, etc.—while 19% always or often get their news from print publications
More Rhode Islanders are also receiving their newso podcasters to get their news, up from 16% a year ago
About the survey
The Rhode Island Survey Initiative was launched in 2023 by a team of researchers from URI’s Harrington School of Communication and Media; the Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy; and the URI Department of Political Science, with plans to conduct at least one survey of Rhode Island residents each year. Each poll includes a different focus area, with some repeated questions to gauge the change in attitudes of Rhode Island residents. The 2026 RISI is supported by URI’s College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health Sciences and the John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service. Previous major RISI themes have included education, election integrity and trust, and housing.
To learn more, or to view the full report, visit the Rhode Island Survey Initiative website
Note about methodology
Party identification was constructed using the seven-point Party Identification scale where self-identified Democrats and Independents who identify as “leaning Democrat” are combined into the “Democrat” category, self-identified Republicans and Independents who identify as “leaning Republican” are combined into the “Republican” category, and pure Independents are in the “Independent” category
