Millions of Americans Start New Year Without Health Insurance Amid Rising Costs

Fri Jan 02 2026 10:32:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As subsidies from the Affordable Care Act expire, families face skyrocketing healthcare premiums, leaving many without insurance or forced to make tough financial decisions.

Adrienne Martin and her family are among the millions of Americans starting the New Year without healthcare coverage due to the expiration of subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With her monthly premium jumping from $630 to $2,400, she faces a choice between financial stability and necessary medical care. Similar stories emerge from other families across the nation as they brace for significant increases in healthcare costs, with some members of Congress pushing for a vote on extending subsidies early in January.

A new year brings significant challenges for many Americans as they find themselves without healthcare coverage. This issue is most poignantly illustrated through the story of Adrienne Martin, a 47-year-old Texas mother, whose family is starting 2026 uninsured. Faced with an astronomical increase in healthcare premiums from a manageable $630 to an unaffordable $2,400 per month, Martin's family had to make the tough decision to stockpile necessary medications to survive the early months of 2026.

Martin's husband relies on an IV medication costing $70,000 monthly without insurance, and she equates the new healthcare costs to paying two mortgage payments—an impossible burden for most families. The challenge they face is not unique; millions of Americans will see their healthcare burdens multiply as subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expire, significantly increasing monthly costs for coverage.

Recent surveys show that around 24 million Americans purchase insurance through the ACA marketplace, historically supported by tax credits that have recently been discontinued. Following the expiration of these subsidies, many families like Martin's are bracing for healthcare costs that could increase by an average of 114%.

Amid efforts from members of Congress to extend these subsidies, a standoff has left negotiations stalled and healthcare costs soaring into unmanageable territory. Political tensions surrounding the ACA, which previously set its foundation under President Obama, flared with a government shutdown that lasted more than 40 days in late 2023. Many families are left to navigate the uncertain landscape of healthcare costs, reflecting personal stories like those of Maddie Bannister and Stephanie Petersen, who are also grappling with rising premiums and the looming threat of being uninsured.

As these families contend with insurance cancellations and potential financial instability, lawmakers are expected to revisit the extension of subsidies in early January. Until then, advocates warn that the number of uninsured Americans may grow substantially, urging the government to prioritize affordable healthcare solutions for all citizens.