Rising Health Care Costs Force Americans to Make Hard Choices

Thu Mar 19 2026 18:27:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As the Affordable Care Act's enhanced tax credits expire, many individuals are facing increased healthcare costs, prompting difficult decisions about medication and basic necessities.

A recent survey reveals that about 80% of Americans re-enrolled in the Affordable Care Act find their health care costs rising significantly in 2025. Many are forced to make tough choices between necessary medications and everyday expenses. The expiration of enhanced tax credits has left millions struggling to afford health insurance premiums, leading some to cut back on essential needs like food and gas.

NEW YORK (AP) — Priscilla Brown, a 48-year-old truck dispatcher in Orlando, Florida, recently found herself trapped in a difficult situation: manage her Type 2 diabetes effectively or afford gas for her car. To make ends meet, Brown has been taking only half or a third of her prescribed insulin dose. Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine, she shared. The rising healthcare costs have forced many, including Brown, to make unsettling sacrifices.

A survey by the health care research nonprofit KFF indicates that approximately 80% of Americans who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage reported increased healthcare costs this year. Nearly half characterized these costs as “a lot” higher than before. The primary driver of these heightened expenses was the expiration of enhanced tax credits on December 31, which had previously helped offset premiums for most enrollees.

Brown's financial strain is emblematic of the challenges faced by many enrollees. Around 55% of the survey's 1,117 respondents indicated they planned to cope with escalated healthcare costs by cutting spending on necessities like food.

Last year, Brown paid no premiums for her health insurance; this year, her new plan requires $17 a month but comes with a higher deductible. The impact of rising medication costs has been severe; she reported a recent refill costing over $150. To manage her finances, she filled her car with only half the necessary gas.

The survey also revealed that about 75% of those with ACA insurance last year expressed significant worry about paying for emergency care, hospitalization, and routine medical visits. Many enrollees turned to lower-tier plans or dropped coverage entirely, with 10% now uninsured.

Political factors are contributing to the discontent, as 70% of returning ACA enrollees who noted higher costs attributed their frustrations to health insurance companies, while just over half also blamed Republican lawmakers and President Trump. The KFF poll, conducted between February 12 and March 2, confirms that millions of Americans continue grappling with the financial burden of healthcare amidst an ongoing political battle that neglects their needs.