When people can’t afford health insurance, preventive care is often the first thing they give up. Pennsylvania is seeing the consequences as rising premiums force more residents to drop their coverage.
Following the 2026 Open Enrollment Period, Pennie, the state’s health insurance marketplace, reported that premium costs doubled for many enrollees after enhanced federal tax credits expired. As a result, approximately 85,000 Pennsylvanians dropped coverage, and nearly one in five people enrolled in Pennie was unable to keep their health plan for 2026. The impact was highest among older adults and rural residents.
In counties such as York, the situation is especially concerning. The average monthly premium per policy rose 169 percent — an increase of $228 per month. For many families, this is a financial breaking point that forces them to choose between basic needs and preventive care…