Mother Jones
Mother Jones
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I broke down my health care budget. Whyyyy.

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November 12, 2025

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Health care is set to get more expensive. But, how much more expensive? It depends.

At the heart of these price hikes is a standoff between lawmakers over funding tax credits that help people pay for Obamacare coverage. Basically: Democratic lawmakers want to fund those tax credits; Republican lawmakers don’t. (Along with a whole lot of shutdown shenanigans that have once again punted a vote over the matter to December.) Without relief, nearly 22 million people who get those credits can expect to pay more.

Think you’re safe if you weren’t getting these tax credits anyway? Think again! Insurers that are part of Affordable Care Act Marketplaces (i.e. where you buy health insurance through Obamacare) proposed a median premium increase of 18 percent—about 11 percentage points higher than last year’s median. And think you’re safe because you get health insurance through your job? Also think again! Next year is expected to see the highest increase in the total health benefit cost per employee since 2010. In other words, more money is gonna come out of your paycheck to pay for your health insurance—about 6 to 7 percent more on average.

But how much more you’ll be paying depends on factors like your age, where you live and whether you’re married. I don’t know you like that, so enough about you. Let’s talk about me. I’m an unmarried 26-year-old living in Illinois. Here, insurers have requested rate changes as high as 38 percent. That kind of increase to my current premium would have me paying over $430 per month for health insurance. That’s roughly the same as my grocery budget, about a third of my rent, more than four times my utilities, and it would force me to choose between buying the occasional little treat out or saving enough to retire in this lifetime.

This breakdown won’t be true for everyone, but these price hikes are forcing many to choose between health care and other necessities. If that sounds like you, feel free to share your experience by commenting or stitching. You can also message me, @bychrisvazquez, if you want to be interviewed on camera for future videos we have coming out about this.

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I broke down my health care budget. Whyyyy. · Mother Jones · Sentinel