Healthcare Crisis Looms: Americans Struggle to Afford Essential Coverage
As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expire, millions of Americans are bracing for a financial shock. Small business owners like Andy Lilienthal and entrepreneurs like Alaina Shearer will have to shoulder the burden alone, facing premiums that could exceed their monthly mortgage payments.
The stakes are high: without ACA subsidies, families like Lilienthal's can expect to pay nearly $1,700 per month for health insurance in 2026 – a price tag more than twice what they currently shell out. For Shearer, who pays an average of $400 per month for copays and prescriptions, the prospect of scrapping her current plan is daunting.
"It's hard not to think of myself as failing my family and my kids," she admits. The thought of going without health insurance is a constant source of anxiety, especially if an emergency strikes or one of them falls ill. "This is bigger than us," she reminds herself, but the fear of what could happen if they can't afford care lingers.
Meanwhile, experts point to systemic issues driving up healthcare costs in the US. Munira Z. Gunja, a senior researcher at the Commonwealth Fund, notes that hospital services and insurance company profits drive up prices, leaving consumers without better health outcomes.
For Deborah Kevin, a 62-year-old small business owner in Baltimore, the upcoming premium hike is particularly daunting. Without ACA subsidies, her monthly premium will skyrocket to nearly $1,600 – forcing her to question how much coverage she can afford. The added stress of carrying the weight of healthcare costs alone is suffocating.
The US stands out as a country without universal healthcare, despite its high per-person spending on healthcare and low life expectancy compared to other wealthy nations. As anxiety about healthcare costs grows, one thing is clear: millions are struggling to make ends meet – and the consequences will be felt for years to come.
As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expire, millions of Americans are bracing for a financial shock. Small business owners like Andy Lilienthal and entrepreneurs like Alaina Shearer will have to shoulder the burden alone, facing premiums that could exceed their monthly mortgage payments.
The stakes are high: without ACA subsidies, families like Lilienthal's can expect to pay nearly $1,700 per month for health insurance in 2026 – a price tag more than twice what they currently shell out. For Shearer, who pays an average of $400 per month for copays and prescriptions, the prospect of scrapping her current plan is daunting.
"It's hard not to think of myself as failing my family and my kids," she admits. The thought of going without health insurance is a constant source of anxiety, especially if an emergency strikes or one of them falls ill. "This is bigger than us," she reminds herself, but the fear of what could happen if they can't afford care lingers.
Meanwhile, experts point to systemic issues driving up healthcare costs in the US. Munira Z. Gunja, a senior researcher at the Commonwealth Fund, notes that hospital services and insurance company profits drive up prices, leaving consumers without better health outcomes.
For Deborah Kevin, a 62-year-old small business owner in Baltimore, the upcoming premium hike is particularly daunting. Without ACA subsidies, her monthly premium will skyrocket to nearly $1,600 – forcing her to question how much coverage she can afford. The added stress of carrying the weight of healthcare costs alone is suffocating.
The US stands out as a country without universal healthcare, despite its high per-person spending on healthcare and low life expectancy compared to other wealthy nations. As anxiety about healthcare costs grows, one thing is clear: millions are struggling to make ends meet – and the consequences will be felt for years to come.
how can ppl afford health insurance on their own? i mean i know its not easy but $1700/month is just ridiculous. what if theres a medical emergency or u get sick? wont that b a huge burden 4 them? i think the gov should step in & help out or maybe make universal healthcare mandatory 
Americans really can't catch a break with this whole healthcare thing 
. Like, $1,700 per month? That's just insane 
! And it's not just individuals who are struggling, small businesses like Andy Lilienthal's are gonna get slammed too 
. Systemic issues and hospital services being super expensive is no excuse for people to go without healthcare 
. Deborah Kevin is totally right to be worried about how she can afford coverage 
. When will the US just figure out universal healthcare already? 
the US healthcare system is a total mess rn 
. i feel bad for people like alaina shearer, who's got anxiety just thinking about losing her health insurance 
and deborah kevin, who's gotta pay more than ever because of those stupid premium hikes 
it's just not right... 
. Meanwhile, hospitals and insurance companies raking in profits, making it impossible for us to get better health outcomes 
. The numbers are crazy - did you know that life expectancy in the US is lower than most wealthy countries? 
It's like, we're paying top dollar for healthcare, but getting a subpar outcome 
.
. We need systemic change ASAP! 
I mean, what's the point of being a "first world country" if we can't take care of our own citizens? 
anyway, feel bad 4 ppl who r strugglin 2 afford healthcare 2c 
It's like we're all just one big experiment to see how many people can afford healthcare before the system completely collapses. And honestly, who needs that kind of stress? 
. We need to figure out a way to make this more affordable for everyone, not just the rich folks 
.
. This can't keep going on like this 
. They're just waitin' for us to crack under the pressure so they can swoop in and take advantage of our vulnerability 
. We need universal healthcare, pronto! 
but like, only if we can actually afford it 
We can do better than this 
, and small business owners and entrepreneurs are gonna have to take on way too much financial stress 