Rising Healthcare Costs Force Americans to Make Tough Choices

Thu Mar 19 2026 16:59:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent KFF survey reveals that many Americans with Affordable Care Act insurance are facing skyrocketing healthcare costs, impacting their ability to afford necessary treatments and essentials. The expiration of enhanced tax credits is largely to blame, leading some individuals to reduce medication intake or even drop coverage entirely.

Priscilla Brown, a 48-year-old truck dispatcher from Orlando, is among many Americans struggling with increased healthcare costs due to Affordable Care Act changes. The expiration of tax credits has resulted in financial strain, with many resorting to halving their medication doses or cutting back on essentials like food and gas. The recent KFF survey underscores the growing anxieties among enrollees as a significant number blame insurance companies and politicians for the escalating costs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Priscilla Brown, a 48-year-old truck dispatcher in Orlando, Florida, recounts the difficult choices facing everyday Americans regarding their healthcare. With rising costs associated with her Type 2 diabetes management, Brown often has to decide between her necessary medications and other essential expenditures like gas.

“Some days, I take half or a third of my insulin dose to stretch it out longer,” she expressed. “Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine.”

According to a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), about 80% of Americans enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage are grappling with higher healthcare costs this year. Among them, nearly half reported a substantial increase in expenses. A major factor for this rise is the expiration of enhanced tax credits that previously alleviated premium costs for many enrollees.

Brown’s experience reflects a broader concern. More than half of the 1,117 Americans surveyed indicated they plan to cut back on fundamental needs like food in response to mounting health expenses.

Despite efforts from Democrats in Congress to retain the COVID-era subsidies, bipartisan negotiations ultimately failed. As a consequence, approximately 23 million ACA enrollees are now facing either higher premiums or are forced to downgrade their plans.

Anxiety about unforeseen medical expenses has escalated, with three-quarters of respondents voicing significant worry about paying for emergency medical care. Half expressed similar concerns about routine visits or prescription drugs.

While a majority of last year’s enrollees remained on ACA insurance, many switched to lower-tier plans, and some dropped their coverage entirely. Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old software developer in California, faced with skyrocketing premiums, stated that his budget could not support his previous mid-tier planning costs approaching $1,200 a month.

This growing dissatisfaction also reflects blame directed at health insurance firms and political leaders, with many enrollees attributing the surge in costs to this group. James Mako, an engineer from Florida, reflects the sentiment, sharing his skepticism regarding the effectiveness of proposed solutions like health savings accounts. “I think they’re just sales gimmicks,” he argued, advocating for the reinstatement of subsidies.

The KFF survey conducted from February 12 to March 2, 2026, captured the sentiments of 1,117 U.S. adults who held Marketplace insurance in 2025. With the cumulative impact of rising costs and legislative inaction, the ongoing healthcare crisis leaves many Americans in a precarious position.