NEW YORK (AP) — Priscilla Brown, a 48-year-old truck dispatcher from Orlando, Florida, is forced to choose between managing her Type 2 diabetes and covering basic living expenses. With skyrocketing healthcare costs, she's at a crossroads, taking only half her prescribed insulin to make it last longer.
A recent survey conducted by the KFF health care research nonprofit highlights that approximately 80% of Americans re-enrolled in the Affordable Care Act marketplace report higher healthcare costs this year. Nearly half indicate their expenses are significantly elevated, largely due to the Dec. 31 expiration of enhanced tax credits that once alleviated premium burdens.
This financial strain is having a real impact: Among 1,117 Americans surveyed who held ACA marketplace coverage in 2025, about 55% plan to cope with their increased healthcare costs by cutting back on essentials like food and household spending.
Efforts by Democrats to retain COVID-era subsidies faced stiff resistance from Republicans in Congress last year. Consequently, an estimated 23 million ACA enrollees are now without financial relief.
Hard Choices for Healthcare
Brown, who previously paid nothing toward her health insurance premiums last year, now finds herself paying $17 monthly with a higher deductible. After learning her medication refill would cost over $150, she was compelled to fill her car with only half the needed gas as she needed to prioritize funds for essential medications.
Widespread anxiety about medical expenses persists, as three-quarters of past ACA enrollees express significant concern over emergency care costs. With many turning to lower-tier plans or dropping coverage altogether, the market dynamics continue to evolve as consumers react to the financial pressures and political uncertainties surrounding their healthcare.
