Brace Yourself: Premiums Up, Subsidies Down
Let’s play a fun game called “Guess How Much Your Health Insurance Goes Up Next Year?” Spoiler alert: you can’t afford the consolation prize. ACA (that’s Obamacare for the folks in back) enrollees woke up to the cheery news that 2026 premiums will jump an average 26%. If you’re on healthcare.gov, the “benchmark plan” (i.e., the one politicians love to brag about) gets a paltry 30% jolt. State exchanges? Only a 17% rise—so “just” a baby punch in the gut.
What’s to Blame? Hint: It’s Congress, Again
Remember those enhanced premium subsidies that made healthcare almost feel like a right instead of a luxury SUV? Yeah, those are about to peace out at the end of 2025. Lawmakers are busy fighting each other instead of solving the problem (shocking, I know). If Congress doesn’t extend these subsidies, monthly payments for millions will more than double. Because nothing says “the American Dream” like working full-time and still not being able to go to the doctor.
Sticker Shock: The Antacid Won’t Be Covered
Red State, Blue State—Everyone Gets Burned
Don’t think this is just a blue state problem. Some of the reddest states, where ACA enrollment is up big, are in the crosshairs too. In New Jersey, for example, premiums are set to rocket up 174% for some unlucky souls, with 60,000 losing federal help. Colorado’s more of a “hold my beer” state—premiums averaging 101% higher, and about 75,000 people waving goodbye to coverage. Middle-class families? Without subsidies, expect to cough up an extra $14,000 a year. You could buy a used car, or you could stay insured. Pick one.
Why? Because Congress Won’t Do Its Job
This entire fiasco is because Congress can’t act unless there’s a government shutdown or national embarrassment. Democrats demand renewal of subsidies. Republicans want… well, apparently, they want to wait. Meanwhile, people are about to run for the exits. A decade’s worth of progress on covering more Americans? At risk because the adults (and I use that term loosely) in DC can’t hash out $350 billion over ten years.
Get Ready to Lose Healthcare (Again)
The Congressional Budget Office says if this plays out, about 4 million more people will be uninsured by 2034—on top of millions already dropped due to Medicaid rule changes and other “let’s see how little we can give folks” policies. For some, the choice is: mortgage or medicine. And for what? So politicians can peacock instead of legislating.
Fraud: The ‘Entrepreneurial Spirit’ No One Asked For
As if we needed another way to lose money: with expanded subsidies came expanded scams. Brokers and agents, looking to cash in, have been switching people’s policies without their consent. Thanks, capitalism!
ACA: Record Sign-Ups, but for How Long?
The now-threatened subsidies helped ACA reach record enrollment—24 million in 2025. Many of them live in deep-red states, which makes this mess bipartisan, whether you like it or not. If these rate hikes and subsidy cuts kick in, expect record unenrollment real soon. But hey, who needs healthcare, right?
If you’re feeling deja vu, you should: Premiums shot up the last time Trump and friends played “Let’s Mess With Obamacare.” Remember 2018? A 37% leap, thanks to cutting out cost-sharing funding. That was fun. Not.
So, Now What?
Here’s the bottom line: If Congress doesn’t get its act together, millions will get priced out of health insurance. The “free market” works great if all you want are GoFundMes for medical bills.
Sources (and yes, you can trust them):
- CNN: Obamacare enrollees get first look at 2026 prices as premiums soar
- KFF: Health Insurance Premiums Will Jump an Average 26% in 2026
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to window-shop for insurance I can’t afford. Again.