Survey Finds 24% of U.S. Workers Stay in Unwanted Jobs to Keep Health Insurance

A Gallup and West Health survey of more than 2,000 employed adults found that 24% would stay in a job they dislike simply to retain health insurance coverage.

The phenomenon, known as job lock, has long limited workers’ ability to change jobs or start businesses, especially for those with chronic health conditions who fear losing benefits.

The share of workers reporting job lock rose from 16% in 2021 to the current 24%, reflecting growing anxiety about health‑care costs and economic uncertainty.