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A few weeks ago, we asked you to tell us what happens when health care becomes unaffordable. You answered with stories of impossible choices, dangerously high premiums, and growing fear. You have shared your experiences as proof of harm—turning abstract policy debates into undeniable evidence that health care is broken. Again.
Two weeks into the new year, the Republican-controlled Senate has failed to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This has made health care even more unaffordable than it was before for the 24 million Americans who rely on the ACA. A new report [ [link removed] ] shows that 1.4 million fewer Americans have enrolled for ACA coverage this year.
But the stories you’ve shared, and the pressure we’re putting on lawmakers to Just Fix It, is starting to work.
Earlier in January, 17 House Republicans voted [ [link removed] ] with Democrats to extend ACA subsidies. Yet the Senate continues to stall, and the newest salvo from the White House either restores parts of the ACA they scuttled or it proposes unworkable, ineffective ideas that can’t solve the crisis.
At this moment, giving up seems to be a logical choice. Don’t. Our stories still have power to move the debate. As I know from experience, whether they admit it or not, lawmakers are paying attention. We can’t afford to go silent as Congress drags its feet, hoping we’ll be distracted by the chaos or accept cheap political theater. And we also deserve a reminder of what’s at stake, why we’re in this together. So, today, we wanted to share some of what we’ve heard from you, and encourage you to share your story if you haven’t already.
Here are just a few of the compelling stories that we’re sharing with your permission:
“My medical insurance premium is increasing $88/month from $532/month in 2025 to $620/month in 2026. To offset this increase, I am dropping dental insurance for both my husband and myself. This will be the first time in my entire life I will not have dental coverage.”
Anonymous, Insured, New Mexico
“I am canceling my insurance this month because my COBRA is $1,340 a month — twice my rent. And without my job, I can’t afford it. It’s more than regular check-ups. I can only hope nothing serious happens. It’s absurd. Our health care costs would be so much cheaper if we paid our doctors well and covered everyone, so we could invest in health rather than extort people who are sick.”
Sam G., Uninsured, New York
“My partner gets health insurance through Medicare. I’ve been out on the ACA Marketplace for years in 3 states. I’ve paid monthly premiums of $0 to $777/month. At my current part-time income level, next year, I won’t be able to afford to buy health insurance and my medications. So, I’m going to have to choose to get medications, maybe from Canada and skip insurance. See only my Primary Care Provider once per year, and not get any preventive scans like mammogram or colonoscopy, even though cancer killed my dad and other family. Basically, I can’t afford to live.”
Anonymous, Insured, Washington
“I decided it was better for me and my spouse to cancel our insurance which was $25,000 this year and live outside the U.S. for the past 9 months. I have been to the dentist in 2 other countries and found the price to be a fraction of the cost in the U.S. and the quality of care to be superior. I have priced this year’s premiums and have not yet made a decision. The lowest Bronze plan covers so little and if there is an emergency it will mean $20,000 out of pocket. We may decide to leave the country again. Not only is health care more affordable—rent, groceries, and living expenses are significantly cheaper in Europe.”
Anonymous, Uninsured, Florida
“We pay about $800 per month for health insurance, and not everything is covered. I recognize that we are lucky that I am covered through my employer, but the costs are excessive. Outside of this expense for our family, I am paying $3,000 per month to allow my elderly mother to live in an assisted nursing facility. Her insurance coverage and Social Security do not come close to covering these expenses. I cannot retire while my mother is living in this facility as we would not be able to pay for her care. We have so little support for caring for the elderly.”
Terri P., Insured, Georgia
We’re not giving up the fight. No—now is the time to get even louder. To tell those who have borrowed our power that we’re coming to take it back. And why. If your premiums have gone up, if you’re worried about losing coverage, or if you’ve already been forced to make impossible choices, we need to hear from you. Keep sharing your story, keep documenting the impact, and keep demanding action. Together, we’ll make it impossible for Congress to look away. They broke it. They need to Just Fix It.
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