Healthcare Affordability Crisis: Rising Premiums Stress American Families

Fri Dec 05 2025 05:40:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As health insurance premiums soar, many Americans find themselves burdened with increasing costs and looking for cheaper coverage options. Findings from a recent survey indicate that rising expenses could significantly impact households unless Congress intervenes.

Dinam Bigny, a 52-year-old program manager from Virginia, struggles with health insurance premiums nearing $900 a month, projected to rise by $200 next year. He reflects the concerns of many Affordable Care Act enrollees facing imminent cost increases if Congress does not extend the expiring COVID-era tax credits. A recent KFF survey highlights widespread anxiety regarding healthcare affordability, as residents fear significant financial strain amid rising premiums and healthcare costs. Support for extending the tax credits spans across political lines, with most enrollees urging Congress to take action.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fifty-two-year-old Dinam Bigny sank into debt and had to get a roommate this year, in part because of health insurance premiums that cost him nearly $900 per month.

Next year, those monthly fees will rise by $200 — a significant enough increase that Bigny has resigned himself to finding cheaper coverage.

“I won’t be able to pay it, because I really drained out any savings that I have right now,” he worried, emphasizing the growing financial pressures many Americans face amid rising healthcare costs. Bigny represents a broader cohort of individuals reliant on the Affordable Care Act's marketplace insurance plans as concerns over healthcare affordability grow.

A recent survey from the health policy research nonprofit KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) indicated that most of the over 1,300 enrollees surveyed expect their health costs to rise next year due to potential expiration of critical COVID-era subsidies that help over 90% of users.

The debate over extending these essential tax credits has become contentious on Capitol Hill, with Democrats advocating for their extension while some Republican lawmakers push back. This discord contributed to a record 43-day government shutdown earlier this fall.

With the deadline for selecting next year's insurance plans fast approaching, uncertainty looms for many who rely on these credits to keep healthcare within reach. As Bigny noted, finding affordable insurance is increasingly challenging amid ongoing price hikes.

The KFF survey further indicates that approximately 60% of those currently enrolled find their out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles and copays, burdensome, exceeding the number of enrollees who struggle to keep up with their insurance premiums.

Healthcare expert Cynthia Cox noted that many enrollees are lower-income individuals, putting them at heightened risk from even minor increases in health costs. With people continuously juggling financial responsibilities, the anticipated increases in premiums could lead to a significant strain on already tight household budgets.

In light of these growing concerns, support for extending the tax credits cuts across party lines with substantial backing from Democratic and independent voters, as well as considerable Republican support.

Without prompt action from Congress towards feasible healthcare solutions, Bigny fears that the financial realities will only worsen for families dependent on affordable health insurance.