06/02/2026
The “Affordable Care Act” was designed to only help a chosen few. Those between 100%-400% FLP. The plans presented were not affordable so financial assistance was needed to disguise the true price. Payment responsibilities were called Premiums when it was just a small portion. People struggled to understand why when their income changed their $20 payment jumped to +$300 or more. They ask “Why did my premium change?” It didn’t change. What changed was your portion of responsibility because your financial assistance was reduced.. The poor single person making just over $63,000 becomes responsible for 100% of the cost. Unsustainable so they drop their coverage. Not because they didn’t want it but because they were priced out of a system that wasn’t made for them.
Where will they go? When so many options that can work with good education have been eliminated or access as been cut off because the phrase “If you like your plan you could keep” your plan wasn’t fully explained. It should have read “If you like your plan you can keep your plan IF the insurance company and your state say you can keep it.” The choice was not ours. The people that fell outside of the parameters set by the Affordable Care Act were the ones who used to be able to afford their insurance. They instantly lost them in 2014 unless either the state or the insurance company took it away. If only one said no their affordable plan was gone forever.
Did this happen to everyone. No. Each year a few who still have plans purchased between March 2010 and December 2014 are holding on dearly. The same rules apply to us. The gatekeepers have continued to grant permission. The CHOICE is still not ours.
Where will everyone go. Sadly without education to the next shiny object that sounds good. Offered by someone who see profit from someone else’s need. There are still many options out there for getting routine healthcare but most don’t know they exist. Or the options are demonized and not explained by people who favor one choice but lack true understanding of all available options and the purpose they serve. People understand more than they are given credit for. Some people will find these options learn how they work and find the satisfaction that comes with understanding what they have. But sadly the rest will be lost feeling there are no options for them because they believe only what they hear but do not search for more. Mainly because they don’t know where to look 👀.
More people will drop coverage next year. Especially in the immigrant population who have had coverage for years. Work permit holders and others who have been granted permission to receive financial assistance will suddenly see it disappear. Not because their status changed but because their permission will be revoked. They will still have access but they will be introduced to the true cost for the first time. Because the five 5 year rule was never enforced for immigrants from day one it seems like punishment for those who value what they have always had access to. They will be the new wave of drop outs because they were priced out with no guidance.
Beginning in 2021, marketplace users benefited from enhanced ACA Premium tax credits, which significantly reduced out-of-pocket costs. But those credits expired at the end of last year. And costs have skyrocketed.
