Additional Coverage:
ACA Premium Hikes Threaten American Dreams, Spark Political Standoff
Across the nation, millions of Americans relying on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are facing a daunting future as enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year. The impending change is triggering dramatic increases in monthly premiums, leaving many policyholders questioning their ability to afford essential healthcare and, in some cases, even their place in the United States.
This looming crisis has become a central point of contention in Washington D.C., contributing to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Democrats are pushing for an extension of the ACA subsidies, while Republicans refuse to negotiate until a clean funding bill is passed and the government reopens. As political leaders remain gridlocked, families like the Storeys, Boyes, and Butcharts find themselves caught in the crossfire.
A Colorado Family Contemplates Leaving the Country
Astrid Storey, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Panama residing in Colorado, is grappling with the unthinkable: giving up her American dream due to escalating healthcare costs. Storey, a thyroid cancer patient with an autoimmune disorder, has been notified that her monthly ACA premiums will surge by nearly $500 in 2026, reaching almost $1,900. Unlike many, she does not currently receive the enhanced tax credits, making her situation even more dire.
“I have an autoimmune disease, and I also have thyroid cancer. So, I had very specific needs as to which doctors and which medicines I needed to have covered in this plan,” Storey explained, noting a $2,000 deductible and significant out-of-pocket expenses.
The graphic designer and small business owner stated that if her premium hits $2,500 a month, she and her family will sell their belongings and move to a country with universal healthcare, such as Spain, where she also holds citizenship. Her husband, Denis, has already taken a part-time job at Starbucks to help make ends meet.
“I have a lot of feelings about being run out of my country because of health care costs,” Storey lamented. “The American dream is a disappointment when it comes to health care.”
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Storey’s insurer, stated that their ACA plan rates “reflect the care and costs we expect members to use next year,” citing “higher utilization and more complex care among ACA members,” particularly in emergency room visits, behavioral health, and specialty pharmacy.
Florida Father Faces a Staggering 2,500% Premium Jump
In Orlando, Florida, Nathan Boye, a married father of three with diabetes, initially received notice that his monthly ACA premiums would skyrocket from $28 to over $700 – a staggering 2,518% increase without financial assistance. Boye qualified for the ACA tax credits after being laid off from his operations manager position earlier this year due to tariffs impacting his company’s ability to import medical supplies from China.
After further research and reapplying through the ACA portal, Boye found a plan with monthly premiums of $113, contingent on a $620 tax credit. However, if these tax credits are not extended, he fears he will be forced to forgo health insurance entirely. His wife is insured through her job as a teacher’s assistant, and their three children are covered by Medicaid.
“Realistically, I have no control over any of this,” Boye expressed, feeling like a “tiny fish that does not matter.” He has begun researching discount drug companies and cash-pay programs for his diabetes medications, including Jardiance, which his insurance currently covers at a cost of $1,669 per month.
Florida Blue, Boye’s insurer, acknowledged “higher insurance costs for many” and the anticipated decrease in government financial help if enhanced premium tax credits expire. They attributed premium increases to “industry-wide changes,” including regulatory shifts and the rising cost and utilization of medical care and prescription drugs.
Illinois Couple Fights for Life-Saving Medication
Doug Butchart, a retired mechanic from Elgin, Illinois, is on a desperate mission to ensure his wife, Shadene, can continue receiving the life-saving medications she needs to manage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Butcharts recently traveled to Washington D.C. with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to plead their case to congressional leaders, including Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Butchart has been notified that his wife’s monthly ACA premiums, currently at $603.82, could soar to $2,000 without the tax credits in 2026. Even with an estimated $738 tax credit, the premium would still be nearly $1,400.
“It’s insane,” Butchart stated.
Shadene, 58, was diagnosed with ALS eight years ago. Her main medication, Radicava, costs approximately $15,000 a month, with another medication costing $4,000 for a three-month supply.
While insurance has covered most of their medical costs, their out-of-pocket expenses were around $3,000 last year. Without the tax credits, they face an $8,000 deductible and potential out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $10,000.
“That’s a lot of money, way more money than we get in a year,” said Butchart, who along with his wife, lives off his Social Security income. “I don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we’re in debt.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois echoed other insurers, stating that their 2026 rates “reflect industry-wide changes to the market, including the anticipated expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025,” and are “priced to reflect anticipated health care needs.”
However, Butchart struggles to comprehend how such increases are justified. “I wish the people who are making decisions and setting the prices were in the same position as we are,” he said.
As the government shutdown continues and the debate over healthcare funding intensifies, millions of Americans are left in limbo, facing the very real possibility of unaffordable healthcare and the potential unraveling of their financial security.