Middle-Class Financial Resilience Cools in Q2, But Cost Concerns Point to Where Life Insurers Can Help
Sep 2, 2026
Middle-Class Financial Resilience Cools in Q2, But Cost Concerns Point to Where Life Insurers Can Help
Sep 2, 2026
Middle-class financial resilience lost some momentum in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest ACLI Financial Resilience Index. The Headline Index fell 10 points quarter-over-quarter to a modestly positive score of +10 — still reasonably strong relative to historical norms, but a clear sign that the pace of improvement is slowing, driven largely by a pullback in the Resource Resilience Index.
Slowing wage growth and ongoing inflation offset earlier gains this quarter, though access to capital and retirement readiness continued to improve. When cost pressures are high, America’s middle class relies on financial protection that provides peace of mind and helps guard against financial shocks — from guaranteed income that covers daily essentials to supplemental benefits and disability insurance that can help offset medical costs not covered by major medical insurance.
The accompanying Financial Resilience Survey shows where these pressures are hitting hardest: middle-class households are most concerned about affording daily essentials (46%), healthcare services (40%) and transportation (36%) over the next year.
The survey also flagged a significant gap in long-term care planning: more than a third (39%) of middle-class households expect to rely on Medicare to pay for long-term care, despite the fact that Medicare does not cover those costs, and nearly a quarter (23%) haven’t made any plan at all. With 70% of U.S. adults turning 65 needing some form of long-term care in their lifetimes, that gap carries real financial stakes.
Across the board, life insurers are there to fill these gaps for middle-class families with products that provide both tangible financial protection along with peace of mind. In 2024, the industry paid out $110 billion in annuity benefits, $89 billion in life insurance benefits and $10 billion in long-term care claims — delivering guarantees when middle-class households need them most. As cost pressures persist, the Financial Resilience Index continues to inform how life insurers can help households build lasting resilience.
ACLI
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) advocates on behalf of our member companies whose products and services help 90 million American families achieve financial security and whose investments help fuel growth and stability nationwide.
