Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
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Health Affairs Publishing delivers rigorous, nonpartisan research and analysis to improve health and health care. For over 40 years, it has turned complex health policy research into clear insights that guide decision makers toward effective solutions. Health Affairs is described as one of the nation's most read and influential health policy journals.
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Impact Factor
8.1
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Closed
ISSN
0278-2715
eISSN
0278-2715
Invitation Only
No
Submission Instructions
Health Affairs accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Research Article
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered in the submission Comments field rather than uploaded as a separate document. The cover letter must disclose any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Research Articles must not exceed 3,250 words, including the abstract, main text, and endnotes or references but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendices. Research Articles must include sections for introduction, data/methods, results/findings, and discussion/conclusions. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in callout order, listing all authors or editors if there are up to six and the first six followed by "et al." if there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Research Articles may include up to 4 exhibits, including tables and figures. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be uploaded as separate files and not included in the manuscript file. All exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited in the text by number with location callouts, and accompanied by a complete exhibit list at the end of the manuscript.
Analysis
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered in the Comments field rather than uploaded as a separate document. The cover letter must disclose any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Analysis articles must be 3,000 to 5,000 words including the abstract, main text, and endnotes or references, but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendices. The manuscript file must include the abstract, main text, endnotes, tables, and an exhibit list, with endnotes used instead of footnotes. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in callout order, listing all authors or editors up to six and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Analysis articles may include up to 4 exhibits in total, including tables and figures. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end after the exhibit list, while figures must be submitted as separate files. Exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited by number in the text with callouts indicating approximate placement, and accompanied by a complete exhibit list.
Review Article
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered in the Comments field during submission rather than uploaded as a separate document. The cover letter must disclose any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
An abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Review Articles must be 4,000 to 5,000 words, including the abstract, main text, and endnotes/references but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendices. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in order of citation, listing all authors or editors when there are six or fewer and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Review Articles are limited to four exhibits in the published article. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be submitted as separate files. The manuscript must include a complete exhibit list, and all exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited in the text by number, and identified with callouts for approximate placement.
Forefront
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered into the Comments field during submission rather than uploaded as a separate document. The cover letter must disclose any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5,000 words including the abstract, main text, and endnotes but excluding exhibits, the exhibit list, and supplemental materials. Manuscript must include the abstract, main text, endnotes, tables, and an exhibit list, with endnotes presented as one consecutively numbered section. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be integrated into one section of consecutively numbered endnotes in callout order, listing all authors up to six or the first six followed by "et al." for more than six.
Figures & Tables
Articles are limited to four exhibits in the published article. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be submitted as separate files. Exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited by number in the text with location callouts, and accompanied by a complete exhibit list containing each exhibit's number, type, title, and notes including sources.
Narrative Matters
Cover Letter
Cover letter must be entered in the submission system comments field. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the cover letter.
Abstract
Abstract is not required for Narrative Matters submissions.
Manuscript
Narrative Matters essays must be 2,000 to 3,000 words. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in order of citation, listing all authors when there are up to six and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Narrative Matters essays must not include exhibits.
Datawatch
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered in the submission Comments field rather than uploaded as a separate document. The cover letter must disclose any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
An abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Datawatch articles must be 2,000 words, with the count including the abstract, main text, and endnotes/references but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendices. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in order of callout, listing all authors up to six and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Datawatch articles are limited to five exhibits in the published article. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be uploaded as separate files. The manuscript must include a complete exhibit list, exhibits must be editable and numbered consecutively with text callouts, and each exhibit must include a clear title, dates and population or sample frame in the title, source footnotes, and explanatory notes when needed.
Grantwatch
Cover Letter
Cover letter is required and must be entered in the submission Comments field rather than uploaded as a separate document. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the cover letter.
Abstract
Abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Manuscript must be 3,500 words, with the count including the abstract, main text, and endnotes/references but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendices. AI use to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in order of callout, listing all authors up to six and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Grantwatch articles may include up to 2 exhibits. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be uploaded as separate files. Exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited in the text by number with callouts indicating approximate placement, and accompanied by a complete exhibit list at the end of the manuscript.
Policy Insight
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be entered into the Comments field during submission rather than uploaded as a separate document. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must be disclosed in the cover letter.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Policy Insight articles must be 4,000 to 5,000 words including the abstract, main text, and endnotes, but excluding exhibits, exhibit lists, and appendix material. The manuscript file must include the abstract, main text, endnotes, tables, and an exhibit list in one document, with endnotes used instead of footnotes. Any use of AI to generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be integrated into consecutively numbered endnotes in callout order, listing all authors or editors if there are up to six and the first six followed by "et al." if there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Policy Insight articles may include up to 4 exhibits. Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be submitted as separate files. All exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, referred to in the text by number, and accompanied by an exhibit list containing the exhibit number, type, title, and any notes including sources.
Letter To The Editor
Cover Letter
Cover letter is required and must be entered into the Comments field during submission rather than uploaded as a separate document. Cover letter must disclose any use of AI to help generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation.
Abstract
Abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 180 words.
Manuscript
Letter to the editor must not exceed 300 words inclusive of body text and endnotes. Any use of AI to help generate content or images, write code, process data, or provide translation must also be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References
References must be presented as consecutively numbered endnotes in callout order, listing all authors up to six and the first six followed by "et al." when there are more than six.
Figures & Tables
Tables must be included in the manuscript document at the end following the exhibit list, while figures must be uploaded as separate files. The manuscript file must not include graphs, maps, or diagrams, and all exhibits must be editable, numbered consecutively, cited by number in the text, and accompanied by an exhibit list.
Recent Publications
What Can You Say When You Can’t Say Everything?
Lori Dorfman, Liana B. Winett, Katherine Schaff, Pamela Mejia
10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00921
View Publication
Health Services Professionals Endorse Omitting Some Research Information Under Limited Circumstances: Survey
Alan S. Gerber, Mackenzie Lockhart, Eric M. Patashnik, Harold A. Pollack
10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01440
View Publication
To Omit Or Not To Omit? Why Transparency And Humility Are Compatible With Health Services And Public Health Leadership
Brian G. Southwell
10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00806
View Publication
ACA Marketplace Take-Up Was High After Facilitated Enrollment In California; Disparities Remained
Renée Hagen, Emory Wolf, Carolyn McCormick, Isaac Menashe, Katie Ravel
10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01585
View Publication
MA Dental Plan Enrollment And Generosity Increased, But Continuity Of Coverage Declined, 2010–25
Hawazin W. Elani, Benjamin D. Sommers, Eric T. Roberts, Renuka Tipirneni
10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01470
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Approved content proceeds through review, revision, approval, and copy editing and production. Publication timing is communicated after approval. The journal publishes monthly with several ahead-of-print articles each month.
Reformat to Health Affairs using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter may be submitted by entering it into the Comments field during submission. Uploaded cover letter documents are not accepted.
Reformat to Health Affairs using Livewrite Premium