Don't Sleep on Health care issue
Brutal times ahead...
President Trump has hardened his position against extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, stating on Truth Social: “THE ONLY HEALTHCARE I WILL SUPPORT OR APPROVE IS SENDING THE MONEY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE PEOPLE.” The expiration of ACA subsidies at the end of 2025 is expected to affect approximately 24 million people who have coverage through the ACA, potentially forcing many to face doubled insurance premiums. [*1]
Nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) are worried they won’t be able to afford necessary healthcare in the coming year, the highest level of concern recorded since West Health and Gallup began tracking the measure in 2021.
Plus, A new analysis identified 109 hospitals as most vulnerable to impending Medicaid cuts, with 85% classified as urban safety-net facilities facing over $900 billion in reductions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The combination of expired ACA subsidies and Medicaid cuts creates a compounding healthcare crisis.
According to an Investopedia survey, 86% of Americans see access to quality healthcare as part of the American Dream. This is an issue that matters to people today and matters to people as they conceive of themselves in the American story.
The economic fallout extends beyond healthcare. A report from the Commonwealth Fund projects that allowing these credits to expire will result in the loss of 340,000 jobs in 2026. Half of those losses are expected in non-healthcare sectors like construction and retail, as families facing doubled premiums cut spending elsewhere.
Older Americans not yet eligible for Medicare face the steepest costs. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 would see their premiums rise to $22,600 annually—roughly 25% of their income—without the enhanced subsidies.
Geographically, the impact is concentrated in states that supported the President. Federal enrollment data indicates that Florida, Texas, and Georgia account for a significant share of the 24 million enrollees facing these rate hikes.
[*1] more than double the roughly 11 million enrolled before the enhanced subsidies took effect.
The undocumented immigrant issue the on which the President is so focused pales in contrast to our current healthcare crisis. The wealthy are comfortable, the poor have Medicaid, but so many working Americans are struggling to pay for health insurance. Thanks to EMTALA and the beneficence of care providers, Americans in need of urgent care will receive that care, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. But hospitals providing that care have expenses, and those seeing a significant number of “private pay” patients are already struggling to maintain financial viability. Just this week Heights University Hospital in Jersey CIty closed its doors, and recently Crozer Chester Medical Center in Delaware County, PA, closed. More closures will follow if we continue on our current course. It is sad that many of our citizens may not be able to afford health insurance and at the same time our healthcare systems are having difficulty remaining financially viable. Unfortunately our President and Congress, who all have excellent healthcare plans, seemingly have no interest in devising any solution to our current crisis of health insurance becoming unaffordable for many and an increasing percentage of uninsured Americans stressing the financial health of healthcare organizations.
Cruelty continues to be the point.