Politicians complained about the high cost of the ACA and many voters went along with it. Now we’ll see how much it cost without it because you’re paying all the cost now.
This is why elections have consequences. We need to stop electing unserious people. These issues aren't going away and people are going to find out how hard 2026 will be.
You realize that no other than the Heritage Foundation itself did a cost/benefit analysis and found universal healthcare was FAR CHEAPER for everyone involved; except of course the insurance industry itself.
Health insurance adds ZERO VALUE - only costs, bureaucracy, delays , denials, so that the CEO’s can buy a tenth mansion or yacht 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
After studying state contracts for many years behalf of a labor union, I quickly discovered every dollar paid in profits to a contractor represented a dollar lost in services. Profits represent a waste of tax dollars. The state provided the service at cost with accountability. Contractors generally supply less of the original service with no accountability. You cannot FOIA a contractor. The fact contracts are a waste of money. All services need to be provided in the house in this case the federal government should be running the healthcare and not insurance companies.
The Republicans are responsible for the coming increase of health Insurance Insurance. Vote every single Republican out of office, starting with these congress members: TN: Andy Ogles-05,
NJ: Tom Kean Jr., -07, AL: Nick Begich, CO: Gabe Evans.
Imagine how overwhelmed emergency rooms will be. My employer, a medical corporation with 8 hospitals, has changed our copays to coinsurance and raised our premiums 10%. Not that I blame them. This whole issue is going to blow up very soon. Dems better get universal healthcare on the agenda and no effing around. Our healthcare system is broken.
The shift to HDHPs is brutal becasue it creates this paradox where people technically have insurance but are terrified to use it. I saw this happen with a colleague who delayed getting an MRI for months bc the $5k deductible made it feel like he didnt even have coverage. When financial barriers override medical judgment, we're just rebranding uninsurance as cost containment.
What happens when *NO ONE* can afford their premiums?
What happens if the 99%, or even the bottom 75% opt out, because THEY HAVE TO?
Imho, this is the opening move towards the complete collapse of the health insurance industry - an industry that ADDS NOTHING BUT COSTS AND DENIAL and DESERVES TO DIE.
The current state of health insurance and healthcare are rather shitty. Lots of blame to spread around: Congress (Republicans) for inaction, healthcare and insurance industries for inability to contain costs, create policies and coverage that serve people, and actually take care of thoses needing it. Medicare for All should have been inacted long ago but it most likely never will due to power and greed.
There's really no short-term solution at this point.
Nor is there a realistic, long-term solution, either. I mean, there is: a public option, lowering the Medicare eligibility by ten years, every other year, along with subsidies. But that's not going to happen.
With the current Republican party and their media strength, coupled with enough corporatist and reckless Dems, universal healthcare is as likely to happen as...real gun control measures. Its not going to happen.
Remember, this is happening most immediately because of the Bullshit Billionaire Bill. Has anyone heard any Dems talking about repealing that? Let alone a solution to the mess? I'm also reminded that there's a Medicare for all bill that was filed in the last congress, iirc. Crickets.
How long will the public blame the GOP/Trump/MAGA for this mess?
Elections where people believe "the parties are all the same," or their conscience put other issues outside of America's first (oh, the irony), or whatever, have devastating consequences.
Wow. What the country faces on January 1 is far more devastating than I understood. I knew that many people would lose their coverage because of increased costs, and I had read lots of articles about how much the increases would be, including the disproportionate impact on lower-income people--and those who are just about the current 400% limit. But I had no idea the impact on employer-provided plans. I'm a retired HR executive. HDHPs have been around for years, and many employers have offered them to reduce their own costs and the monthly costs for their employees. However, few employers offered *only* HDHPs. That is a significant change in HR policy. And the exit of the behemoth health care providers like Aetna and United Health Care from markets has also not been widely publicized and will have significant impacts. Finally, the self-employed "tax trap" is news to me. It seems outrageous (but then, what do I expect from this regime) that if self-employed individuals unexpectedly make more than 400% of the poverty level, they will be subject to repaying every dollar of the subsidy they received. The Biden administration attempted to provide coverage for as many people as possible, and to limit the possibility of people falling into bankruptcy due to medical bills. The current regime's approach is precisely the opposite--to limit who gets coverage by making it unaffordable; for the lucky ones who can afford it, making them pay more for less comprehensive coverage; and for those who are unlucky enough to have extensive medical needs to face the very real possibility of bankruptcy. Welcome to health care USA 2026.
Politicians complained about the high cost of the ACA and many voters went along with it. Now we’ll see how much it cost without it because you’re paying all the cost now.
This is why elections have consequences. We need to stop electing unserious people. These issues aren't going away and people are going to find out how hard 2026 will be.
I agree.
You realize that no other than the Heritage Foundation itself did a cost/benefit analysis and found universal healthcare was FAR CHEAPER for everyone involved; except of course the insurance industry itself.
Health insurance adds ZERO VALUE - only costs, bureaucracy, delays , denials, so that the CEO’s can buy a tenth mansion or yacht 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
We've known that for years. Its about the hospital, pharma and insurance lobbies.
After studying state contracts for many years behalf of a labor union, I quickly discovered every dollar paid in profits to a contractor represented a dollar lost in services. Profits represent a waste of tax dollars. The state provided the service at cost with accountability. Contractors generally supply less of the original service with no accountability. You cannot FOIA a contractor. The fact contracts are a waste of money. All services need to be provided in the house in this case the federal government should be running the healthcare and not insurance companies.
The Republicans are responsible for the coming increase of health Insurance Insurance. Vote every single Republican out of office, starting with these congress members: TN: Andy Ogles-05,
NJ: Tom Kean Jr., -07, AL: Nick Begich, CO: Gabe Evans.
Great article. The breakdown and examples provided really drive home the struggle many people are about to face. 😢
Imagine how overwhelmed emergency rooms will be. My employer, a medical corporation with 8 hospitals, has changed our copays to coinsurance and raised our premiums 10%. Not that I blame them. This whole issue is going to blow up very soon. Dems better get universal healthcare on the agenda and no effing around. Our healthcare system is broken.
Americans don't like to think and that's why they keep voting for unhinged plans that will bring them misery.
Voting for unhinged plans or unhinged Republican politicians who have no plans? that will bring them misery?
The shift to HDHPs is brutal becasue it creates this paradox where people technically have insurance but are terrified to use it. I saw this happen with a colleague who delayed getting an MRI for months bc the $5k deductible made it feel like he didnt even have coverage. When financial barriers override medical judgment, we're just rebranding uninsurance as cost containment.
This is the kind of thing that some people have paid in to private insurance companies for their whole lives to avoid happening to them.
Now those companies will be sailing off on the yachts those premiums bought them, while the people who paid for insurance drown in medical debts.
What happens when *NO ONE* can afford their premiums?
What happens if the 99%, or even the bottom 75% opt out, because THEY HAVE TO?
Imho, this is the opening move towards the complete collapse of the health insurance industry - an industry that ADDS NOTHING BUT COSTS AND DENIAL and DESERVES TO DIE.
Medicare for all NOW
The current state of health insurance and healthcare are rather shitty. Lots of blame to spread around: Congress (Republicans) for inaction, healthcare and insurance industries for inability to contain costs, create policies and coverage that serve people, and actually take care of thoses needing it. Medicare for All should have been inacted long ago but it most likely never will due to power and greed.
There's really no short-term solution at this point.
Nor is there a realistic, long-term solution, either. I mean, there is: a public option, lowering the Medicare eligibility by ten years, every other year, along with subsidies. But that's not going to happen.
With the current Republican party and their media strength, coupled with enough corporatist and reckless Dems, universal healthcare is as likely to happen as...real gun control measures. Its not going to happen.
Remember, this is happening most immediately because of the Bullshit Billionaire Bill. Has anyone heard any Dems talking about repealing that? Let alone a solution to the mess? I'm also reminded that there's a Medicare for all bill that was filed in the last congress, iirc. Crickets.
How long will the public blame the GOP/Trump/MAGA for this mess?
Elections where people believe "the parties are all the same," or their conscience put other issues outside of America's first (oh, the irony), or whatever, have devastating consequences.
Should have been "feckless Dems" not "reckless"
This is so sad to see the government treat us like we are all a burden while the robber barons are treated like royalty 👑.
Our last hope is if some members of the GOP grow some heart....and a spine.
We need universal health care for all!!
Wow. What the country faces on January 1 is far more devastating than I understood. I knew that many people would lose their coverage because of increased costs, and I had read lots of articles about how much the increases would be, including the disproportionate impact on lower-income people--and those who are just about the current 400% limit. But I had no idea the impact on employer-provided plans. I'm a retired HR executive. HDHPs have been around for years, and many employers have offered them to reduce their own costs and the monthly costs for their employees. However, few employers offered *only* HDHPs. That is a significant change in HR policy. And the exit of the behemoth health care providers like Aetna and United Health Care from markets has also not been widely publicized and will have significant impacts. Finally, the self-employed "tax trap" is news to me. It seems outrageous (but then, what do I expect from this regime) that if self-employed individuals unexpectedly make more than 400% of the poverty level, they will be subject to repaying every dollar of the subsidy they received. The Biden administration attempted to provide coverage for as many people as possible, and to limit the possibility of people falling into bankruptcy due to medical bills. The current regime's approach is precisely the opposite--to limit who gets coverage by making it unaffordable; for the lucky ones who can afford it, making them pay more for less comprehensive coverage; and for those who are unlucky enough to have extensive medical needs to face the very real possibility of bankruptcy. Welcome to health care USA 2026.
lets not forget that this was the plan -- they couldn't repeal the ACA, so they killed it.
Of course!
As they price our citizens out of health care more and more will want Universal healthcare. For profit health insurance was always a bad idea.
Wonderful article Eric. Thank you for a detailed account of the coming healthcare sinkhole.
This is so sad to see the government treat us like we are all a burden while the robber barons are treated like royalty 👑.
Our last hope is if some members of the GOP grow some heart....and a spine.
We need universal health care for all!!
This is so sad to see the government treat us like we are all a burden while the robber barons are treated like royalty 👑.
Our last hope is if some members of the GOP grow some heart....and a spine.
We need universal health care for all!!