Healthcare costs in the US are skyrocketing, leaving millions on edge. For Andy Lilienthal and his wife, who own a small business and rely on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to afford healthcare, the end of these subsidies in 2026 will be devastating. Their monthly premium of $660 will increase to $1,700, a sum larger than their mortgage in Portland, Oregon.
The lack of ACA subsidies is causing widespread anxiety among Americans, with nearly half of adults surveyed in a recent West Health-Gallup study expressing concern about not being able to afford healthcare in 2026. One in five respondents reported skipping medical treatment due to cost constraints, while an estimated 30% of households have been forced to make difficult choices because of medical expenses.
Small business owners like Alaina Shearer are feeling the pinch, with her family's health insurance plan set to increase from $1,295 a month to $1,695 in 2026. The deductible is staggering at $20,000, leaving them to bear the brunt of out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions and medical screenings.
"It's hard not to think of myself as failing my family and my kids," Shearer said, highlighting the fear that grips many Americans about the prospect of losing access to healthcare. Her dilemma underscores the existential threat posed by rising healthcare costs in a country where millions struggle to afford basic medical care.
The United States is one of only a few high-income countries without universal healthcare. Yet, despite spending significantly more per capita on healthcare than other wealthy nations, it lags behind them in terms of life expectancy and access to quality care.
"The price of services in hospitals can be really, really high," said Munira Z. Gunja, a senior researcher at the Commonwealth Fund. "For insurance companies, there's a whole spectrum of services where other people will profit, and the consumer may not see better health outcomes."
As Deborah Kevin, a 62-year-old small business owner from Baltimore, Maryland, puts it: "This increase makes us question what kind of care we'll actually be able to afford. Do we downgrade our coverage and risk higher out-of-pocket expenses if something goes wrong? Do we absorb the cost and slash other areas of our budget?"
The rising costs are taking a toll on Americans' mental health, with anxiety levels about healthcare soaring in recent years. The prospect of losing access to affordable care is driving people into despair, as those who rely on it struggle to cope with the financial burden.
As the deadline for ACA subsidies approaches, many Americans are facing an uncertain future. Will they be able to afford healthcare when the subsidies expire? Or will they have to make impossible choices between healthcare and other essential expenses?
The lack of ACA subsidies is causing widespread anxiety among Americans, with nearly half of adults surveyed in a recent West Health-Gallup study expressing concern about not being able to afford healthcare in 2026. One in five respondents reported skipping medical treatment due to cost constraints, while an estimated 30% of households have been forced to make difficult choices because of medical expenses.
Small business owners like Alaina Shearer are feeling the pinch, with her family's health insurance plan set to increase from $1,295 a month to $1,695 in 2026. The deductible is staggering at $20,000, leaving them to bear the brunt of out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions and medical screenings.
"It's hard not to think of myself as failing my family and my kids," Shearer said, highlighting the fear that grips many Americans about the prospect of losing access to healthcare. Her dilemma underscores the existential threat posed by rising healthcare costs in a country where millions struggle to afford basic medical care.
The United States is one of only a few high-income countries without universal healthcare. Yet, despite spending significantly more per capita on healthcare than other wealthy nations, it lags behind them in terms of life expectancy and access to quality care.
"The price of services in hospitals can be really, really high," said Munira Z. Gunja, a senior researcher at the Commonwealth Fund. "For insurance companies, there's a whole spectrum of services where other people will profit, and the consumer may not see better health outcomes."
As Deborah Kevin, a 62-year-old small business owner from Baltimore, Maryland, puts it: "This increase makes us question what kind of care we'll actually be able to afford. Do we downgrade our coverage and risk higher out-of-pocket expenses if something goes wrong? Do we absorb the cost and slash other areas of our budget?"
The rising costs are taking a toll on Americans' mental health, with anxiety levels about healthcare soaring in recent years. The prospect of losing access to affordable care is driving people into despair, as those who rely on it struggle to cope with the financial burden.
As the deadline for ACA subsidies approaches, many Americans are facing an uncertain future. Will they be able to afford healthcare when the subsidies expire? Or will they have to make impossible choices between healthcare and other essential expenses?
The alarmingly steep increase in healthcare costs is casting a long shadow over millions of American households, leaving them on edge 
. As we gaze into this abyss, I find it concerning that the US, one of only a few high-income countries without universal healthcare 
, continues to lag behind in terms of life expectancy and quality care 
. The existential threat posed by rising healthcare costs is evident, particularly for small business owners like Alaina Shearer, whose family's health insurance plan will increase dramatically 
. As Munira Z. Gunja aptly puts it, the price of services in hospitals can be exorbitant 
, leaving consumers with limited options and higher out-of-pocket costs 
. It's high time for policymakers to reevaluate our approach to healthcare reform and prioritize affordable care for all 
i mean what's going on with healthcare costs in the US?! it's like, they're already taking so much from us in taxes and then we gotta pay even more for our own care 
and those ppl who have small businesses are literally being squeezed dry 
what if something bad happens to her family? can they really afford it? 
like, what are we even doing?! we spend so much on healthcare compared to other developed nations and yet our life expectancy is actually lower 
it's just not fair.
that's just not right. we need to do something about this ASAP 
And now with these ACA subsidies ending, it's going to be even harder for small business owners and regular folks like me to cope 
. I feel so bad for all these small business owners & families who are gonna struggle to afford medical care in 2026 
. We need to do something ASAP to make healthcare more affordable for EVERYONE 
.
. They're gonna take away those ACA subsidies and watch as people are forced to choose between paying for healthcare or their rent/mortgage. It's like they want us to suffer, you know? And don't even get me started on the deductible - $20,000?! That's insane 
...
Small business owners shouldn't have to bear the brunt of rising healthcare costs 
. That's not fair at all! 
!
. The US needs universal healthcare ASAP, or we're gonna keep seeing people like Andy and Alaina struggle to make ends meet 
. Maybe it's time for us to rethink our approach to healthcare and start thinking about what's truly important: people's lives 
.
... I mean, have you ever been to Japan? It's like, so different from here. And the food! I'm craving sushi now 
... anyway, back to this healthcare thing. It makes me think of my grandma who had some major health issues and how expensive it was for us to take care of her 
. We had to dip into our retirement savings just to cover her meds and hospital stays. But at least we were able to manage. I don't know if that's the case for a lot of people here...
. It's not like these people are choosing not to buy insurance, they can barely afford it with the current costs 
. I'm worried about what will happen when the subsidies expire, not because of the government's policies (which we shouldn't criticize anyway 
), but because of our country's priorities 
.
. Maybe it's time for us to rethink what kind of 'care' we consider essential in a wealthy nation like ours? 
. We need to rethink how we approach healthcare in this country... maybe it's time to explore some kind of universal care model or something?
anyway i'm just gonna be over here sending love to my fave brand