Rising Costs Push Families to the Brink
Policyholders across the country say their Affordable Care Act insurance plans are becoming impossible to afford. After receiving a renewal notice showing her monthly premium would jump from $1,400 to nearly $1,900, Colorado resident Astrid Storey said she’s considering leaving the United States altogether. “I’m a cancer patient, and I can’t keep paying this,” she said, noting that she holds citizenship in two other countries with lower medical costs.
Expiring Subsidies Could Double Rates
The steep increases come as pandemic-era premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025. Those credits helped millions afford coverage through the federal marketplace. Without them, analysts warn, premiums could surge by 25 % or more in many states. Insurers say higher hospital prices, prescription costs, and broader use of expensive new drugs are also fueling the hikes. For some families, that means choosing between paying for insurance or essentials like housing and food.
Uncertain Future for Millions of Enrollees
Roughly 24 million Americans now depend on ACA marketplace plans, most with the help of subsidies. Lawmakers remain divided over whether to extend the enhanced credits, even as enrollees brace for 2026’s open-enrollment season. “It’s insane,” said Illinois resident Doug Butchart, whose wife lives with ALS and faces a premium nearing $2,000 a month. “People are going to die because they can’t afford care.”
