2026 Healthcare Costs

Americans Hate Their Private Health Insurance: A Broken System

The public reaction to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson reveals widespread anger towards the US healthcare system. Online platforms exploded with gleeful mockery, personal anecdotes of insurance struggles, and jokes about Thompson’s death, reflecting deep-seated frustration with the system’s high costs, denials of care, and lack of transparency. This response, ranging from social media to news comment sections, underscores the significant portion of the population who view the current system as failing to meet their needs. The incident even propelled a fourteen-year-old book criticizing insurance company practices to the top of Amazon’s bestsellers. This collective outrage highlights the pervasive discontent with a profit-driven healthcare system that leaves many financially destitute or even dead.

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GOP’s Governing Failure: Higher Healthcare Premiums on the Horizon

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects a significant increase in health insurance premiums for millions of Americans if the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidies expire in 2026. This increase, potentially reaching an extra $700 annually per person, could result in 2.2 million more uninsured Americans in 2026, rising to nearly 4 million annually thereafter. Republicans face a difficult choice, as upholding their campaign promise to lower costs conflicts with their opposition to extending these subsidies, despite the substantial projected increase in healthcare expenses. This conflict highlights the potential political ramifications of prioritizing tax cuts over extending crucial healthcare assistance, a choice Democrats are already highlighting.

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