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22 million Americans just got priced out of healthcare overnight.
On January 1, the ACA enhanced subsidies expired. Congress let them die.
The numbers are staggering:
📈 Average premium increases: 114%
💸 Monthly costs jumping from $69 to $272
🏥 Deductibles soaring from $0 to $6,000
💰 Annual out-of-pocket doubling from $888 to $1,904
One New Jersey couple saw their premium explode from $340 to nearly $2,000 per month. That’s their mortgage payment.
Low-income Americans earning under $25,000 annually? Their silver plans jumped from near-zero to over $100 monthly. For someone making minimum wage, that’s 10 hours of work just for health insurance.
This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about choices no one should make:
• Skip medications or see a doctor?
• Pay rent or keep insurance?
• Risk bankruptcy or go uninsured?
The cruel irony? Those earning just above 400% of the federal poverty level ($62,600 for individuals) lose ALL subsidies. Make $1 too much, pay thousands more.
Here’s what happens next:
Millions will drop coverage. Emergency rooms will see uninsured surges. Hospitals will face uncompensated care crises. Rural facilities, already struggling, may close.
The House plans a vote this month on a three-year extension. But with divided government, millions remain in limbo.
Meanwhile, short-term junk plans with coverage gaps are the only option for many. We’re watching the ACA unravel in real-time.
This subsidy cliff was predictable, preventable, and unconscionable.
When healthcare becomes a luxury good, we all pay the price through higher premiums, overwhelmed ERs, and a sicker population.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to extend these subsidies.
It’s whether we can afford not to.
♻️ Repost if healthcare shouldn’t bankrupt families
👉 Follow me, Jonathan Govette, for real-time updates on healthcare technology and business news. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangovette/
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Author:
Jonathan Govette is a seasoned healthcare and technology executive with more than two decades of experience building, scaling, and advising digital health companies. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oatmeal Health, an AI-driven Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnostics company focused on expanding access to early detection for underrepresented populations, particularly patients served by Federally Qualified Health Centers and value-based health plans.
With a background in engineering, product development, and strategic partnerships, Jonathan has founded and led multiple health technology ventures across clinical care delivery, regulated medical software, and AI-enabled diagnostics. His work sits at the intersection of medicine, technology, and health equity, with a consistent focus on translating complex clinical problems into scalable, real-world solutions.
Jonathan has spent much of his professional life dedicated to improving outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities. He has designed and implemented frameworks that align clinical quality, reimbursement, and technology to sustainably advance health equity at scale. This mission is deeply personal and informs his leadership philosophy and long-term vision for healthcare transformation.
In addition to his operating experience, Jonathan is an author and long-time writer in the healthcare domain, with over 20 years of published work covering digital health, medical innovation, and healthcare systems. He is a frequent mentor to early-stage founders and regularly advises startups on product strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution in regulated healthcare environments.
Before entering industry full-time, Jonathan nearly pursued a career in medicine with an early path toward cardiothoracic surgery, an experience that continues to shape his clinical perspective and respect for frontline care delivery.
CEO | Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Startup | Engineer | Writer | Almost Became a Doctor (Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon) | 3x Health Tech Founder | Startup Mentor | Follow to share what I’ve learned along the way.
