Survey Data Season 2026
Beginning in June and going through September, data from many major federal surveys—including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), and the American Community Survey (ACS)—is released.
This period of time is something we call Survey Data Season.
Each year, SHADAC researchers cover each of these releases with a blog, infographic, report, or other product that shares key findings or important data to note from all surveys. Check out all of the products we made for Survey Data Season 2025 here.
This page serves as a resource where you can find all of the products we have created for the 2026 Survey Data Season series. See each of the products organized by survey (in the order of data release by calendar month) below.
Note: This page will be updated as each new product is published.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Current Release: Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 2025
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
| Data to Be Released | Scheduled Date of Release |
|---|---|
| 2025 MEPS-IC Private Sector Tables - National Estimates 2025 MEPS-IC Private Sector Tables - State Estimates 2025 MEPS-IC Private Sector Tables - Metro Estimates | July 2026 |
| 2024 Full-Year Consolidated Data File | August 2026 |
| 2023–2024 MEPS Panel 28 Longitudinal Data File | September 2026 |
| 2025 MEPS-IC Public Sector Tables - National Estimates 2025 MEPS-IC Public Sector Tables - State Estimates 2025 MEPS-IC Public Sector Tables - Metro Estimates | November 2026 |
See our Comparing Federal Surveys brief as a composite source of health insurance coverage estimates using' prior years MEPS data.
Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS)
BRFSS data are historically released in August or September.
Current Population Survey (CPS)
The 2025 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage statistics from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) are expected to release on September 15, 2026.
American Community Survey (ACS)
According to an announcement from the Census Bureau on August 4, 2026, the release date for the 2025 ACS 1-Year Estimates is still being determined as Census "assess[es] the impact of the new departmental administrative order (DAO), Department of Commerce Disclosure Avoidance for Statistical Products." While the announcement states that Census is "seeking DAO-compliant solutions to allow the release of the ACS 1-year tables later this year," no further specificity is provided at this time.