The State of the 2026 Consumer – A Focus on Health, Experience, and DIY-Agency, McKinsey Observes
Cost pressures and technology acceleration (read: AI) are reshaping and reinforcing post-COVID consumer behaviors, we learn from McKinsey’s State of the Consumer 2026. The research report is built on four key trends, which were discussed in a webinar session featuring Danielle Bozarth (New York-based) and Clarisse Magnin (Paris-based), Senior Partners with McKinsey, led in an insightful conversation by Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly. This year, consumers’ behaviors are empowered and enabled through technology — AI, social media, and omnichannel communications that support peoples’ agency to research, find, purchase, and share experiences. And health is central
If You’re a Woman, Under 50, or Dealing with Mental Health or Respiratory Illness in America, You’re More Likely to Be Healthcare “Cost Insecure”
One-half of people living in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2025 said they could afford health care in America, according to research from Gallup and West-Health discussed in U.S. Adults’ Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low. Gallup and West Health polled 5,660 adults aged 18 and older between October and December 2025 as part of the organizations’ Affordability Index. This research defines Americans’ health care financial access in three tiers: Cost Secure, when people say they have access to quality, affordable care, able to pay for both needed
One of the best aspects of my work is collaborating across the health/care ecosystem to address how health citizens can deal with health care costs and and care for families. I'm grateful to have collaborated with Fidelity on their research into this issue, which you can access at the link here.
I'm gratified to be named on this updated list of 16 women's voices who are shaping health care. The curator of the list, Dorlee Michaeli, asked the question: "If someone wanted a smarter healthcare LinkedIn feed tomorrow, who should they follow today?" Glad to be one of these voices.
I’m celebrating America’s 250th birthday both patriotically and professionally, honored that the NLM included my 2010 paper, “How Smartphones Are Changing Healthcare for Consumers and Patients” as one of 250 items curated for the digital archive of 250 Years of American Medicine.