The Struggle To Afford Insurance in 2026 Hits Home

Dan Weissmann

“An Arm and a Leg” senior producer Emily Pisacreta lately misplaced a job that supplied her with medical health insurance. So now, for the primary time, she might be signing up for Obamacare.

Her search is off to a rocky begin. Pisacreta offers listeners a sobering take a look at how the excessive worth of medical health insurance plans might change her life and people of hundreds of thousands of others in search of Reasonably priced Care Act plans, as premiums, on common, are projected to extend by greater than they’ve lately.

Joined by “An Arm and a Leg” host Dan Weissmann and KFF Well being Information senior correspondent Julie Appleby, Pisacreta examines how latest finances cuts by the Trump administration for navigators — the folks charged with serving to people, households, and companies join ACA plans — might make it tougher to search out the suitable plan and to pinpoint what folks can anticipate in November when open enrollment kicks off. 

Dan Weissmann

@danweissmann

Host and producer of “An Arm and a Leg.” Beforehand, Dan was a employees reporter for Market and Chicago’s WBEZ. His work additionally seems on “All Issues Thought-about,” Market, the BBC, “99% Invisible,” and “Reveal” from the Heart for Investigative Reporting.

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Emily Pisacreta
Host

Ellen Weiss
Editor

Adam Raymonda
Audio wizard

Janmaris Perez
Producer

Lauren Gould
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Transcript: The Battle To Afford Insurance coverage in 2026 Hits House

Observe: “An Arm and a Leg” makes use of speech-recognition software program to generate transcripts, which can include errors. Please use the transcript as a software however test the corresponding audio earlier than quoting the podcast.

Dan: Hey there–

Over the summer time, our buddies at KFF Well being Information printed a narrative with the headline: “Insurers and clients brace for double whammy to Obamacare premiums.”

Mainly– whammy primary — insurers are planning to boost premiums for 2026 —

And whammy quantity two: federal subsidies for Obamacare insurance policies are scheduled to get rather a lot much less beneficiant. 

Collectively, these whammies imply hundreds of thousands of individuals might be paying a LOT extra each month — like lots of of {dollars} extra. 

People are going to want as a lot advance warning as potential, to determine the best way to put together for successful like that.

Which means: That is our sort of story. 

And this one hits a little bit near residence. As a result of a kind of of us is An Arm and a Leg’s senior producer, Emily Pisacreta.

Emily: Yeah, it’s a wild time. I’ve by no means had to do that earlier than. Cuz I’ve all the time had medical health insurance via work. I’ve completely formed my life round that as a result of I’ve diabetes, and with out medical health insurance, I can’t afford what I want.

Dan: However that medical health insurance has by no means come from An Arm and a Leg. When Emily began working right here as an intern, she was the primary individual apart from me to work various hours every week. We didn’t have an worker well being plan as a result of we didn’t have staff.

And we’re nonetheless so tiny, so tiny. Aside from summer time interns, there’s nonetheless solely ever been one different individual working various hours every week apart from the 2 of us. I’m nonetheless the one full-time individual, and we nonetheless don’t have an worker well being plan.

Emily: And till lately, that labored for me– I had one other part-time job, and it had well being advantages.

Besides my contract with that job simply ended. 

So for the primary time, like greater than 20 million different folks, I’m open enrollment. And I gotta say, it’s one hell of a 12 months to try this. 

Dan: You’re a double-whammy case examine. 

And to get a broader perspective, the 2 of us talked with Julie Appleby, the reporter who wrote that “double-whammy” story, and since then you definitely’ve continued to do extra homework. 

Emily: It’s been fairly intense!  

Dan: For actual. And I’m a little bit little bit of a case examine too:

All of a sudden I’m discovering out what our nation’s “system” — the place medical health insurance will get tied to jobs — appears to be like like … from the employer aspect. It’s a complete new journey. 

We don’t know precisely what we’re going to do. Actually, I don’t assume anyone does.

However we’ve realized a ton. About what we’re up towards — together with hundreds of thousands of different folks — and our choices.

And by tackling this proper now — six weeks earlier than open enrollment begins — I hope we may also help loads of different folks begin planning early with stable data. Let’s go.

That is An Arm and a Leg, a present about why well being care prices so freaking a lot, and what we are able to perhaps do about it. I’m Dan Weissmann. I’m a reporter, and I like a problem. So the job we’ve picked on this present is to take one of the crucial enraging, terrifying, miserable elements of American life, and convey you a present that’s entertaining, empowering, and helpful.

So, we began by checking in with the individual whose reporting first received us this story.

Julie Appleby: It’s recording. It appears to be like prefer it says 10, 11,

Dan in interview: good.

Julie Appleby: I’ve notes and I’ll strive to not rattle the papers. 

Emily in interview: I imply, if now we have a reporter on tape rattling papers, I really feel like that’s most likely okay.

Julie Appleby: Okay. That’s a plan, man.

Emily in interview: Yeah. Why don’t we begin out, might you identical to, inform us your identify and what you do and the place you’re employed?

Julie Appleby: So that is Julie Appleby. I’m senior correspondent at KFF Well being Information.

Emily in interview: What kind of stuff do you cowl?

Julie Appleby:  I cowl healthcare coverage, however that’s a broad time period. So the whole lot from price to, the Reasonably priced Care Act, to what’s occurring with Medicare, all types of various issues involving well being care packages and insurance coverage.

Emily in interview: So we have been actually excited to speak with you, as a result of we wished to cowl, you already know, all of the modifications to {the marketplace} plans, that you just’ve been writing about. And, it simply so occurs that I must enroll in a market plan.

Julie Appleby: So let’s offer you sort of the rundown. There’s like, there’s sort of like two issues occurring right here. Certainly one of them is that simply premiums are going up as they do yearly. Though this 12 months it’s greater than it’s been since 2018. So the median enhance nationwide, and that is in accordance with some information analysis by KFF, is about 18%. In order that’s an enormous leap, proper? 

Emily in interview: Yeah. Yeah. In your reporting you referred to as it a double whammy. Charges are going up, enhanced subsidies are most likely going away. 

Julie Appleby: Proper. That’s the second half of the double whammy.

Dan: OK, breaking in right here– gonna do that a few instances for Obamacare vocabulary. Emily simply talked about an essential time period, glided by kinda quick: enhanced subsidies. Obamacare has all the time included subsidies for most individuals — that’s a part of the “Reasonably priced” a part of Reasonably priced Care Act. However for many folks, Obamacare insurance policies nonetheless have been… fairly costly!

So, in 2021 — like, as a part of a COVID restoration bundle — Congress added additional subsidies for Obamacare insurance policies: Enhanced subsidies. 

Julie Appleby: Mainly, they made the protection extra beneficiant on each ends of the revenue spectrum. The truth is, I feel I used to be some statistics this morning and one thing like, 80% of people that have protection proper now have a plan that’s $10 a month or much less.

Dan: These are of us with decrease incomes — the place paying sixty or eighty {dollars} a month is an enormous chunk. With “enhanced” subsidies, that grew to become ten {dollars} — and even zero.

However folks with greater incomes additionally received assist. Earlier than the improved subsidies, folks with incomes above a sure degree didn’t get ANY subsidy. Individuals referred to as it an “revenue cliff.”

For the final 4 years these enhanced subsidies, sort of erased that cliff. In case your revenue was greater, you simply paid a share of your revenue. Enhanced subsidies picked up the remainder.

However the enhanced subsidies weren’t everlasting. They’ll expire on the finish of this 12 months, until Congress extends them. In any other case… 

Julie Appleby: individuals who make greater than the 4 instances the federal poverty degree won’t qualify for any assist with their premiums below the Reasonably priced Care Act. There might be that cliff.

Emily in interview: Proper, proper. 

Dan: And it seems Emily is mainly standing on that cliff. She exhibits Julie the numbers.

Emily: We discovered this calculator from KFF that makes an attempt to point out the modifications in premiums if the subsidies expire. And perhaps I’ll simply share my display screen and we are able to take a look at – we are able to take a look at what I’m .

Okay, you guys see KFF? Possibly simply reload and I can enter some Emily figures in right here. So, they ask you about the place you reside and your yearly family revenue. 

Dan in interview: what’s the quantity that you just’ve entered as revenue?

Emily in interview: I’ve entered $63,000. And it says, with out enhanced subsidies, you’ll seemingly lose monetary assist. As a result of my revenue is 418% of the federal poverty degree.

Dan: Oy. a little bit extra Obamacare vocabulary. First: Federal poverty degree. 4 instances that degree is the place you fall off the revenue cliff, no subsidies. 400 p.c. And the calculator – which we must always say, is a 12 months out-of-date, so the numbers aren’t exact, however they offer us an thought– that calculator says Emily’s at 418.

And subsequent:  Obamacare plans come in several “ranges,” like Olympic medals: Bronze, Silver, Gold… Bronze plans are the most affordable, and canopy the least. 

If Emily received a subsidy, the calculator says a silver plan could be like 400-and some {dollars} a month, but it surely says Emily wouldn’t GET a subsidy, so… 

Emily in interview: It could be about $880 a month for a silver plan, or $675 a month for a bronze plan. So for me, that’s hectic to learn. 

Julie Appleby: That’s some huge cash. 880 bucks a month. So that you’re within the state of affairs the place you don’t get any, subsidies as a result of your revenue is over that quantity. However I performed round with one in all these calculators too after I wrote a narrative lately. And I additionally plugged in someone, let’s say who’s earnings are sort of on the decrease finish of the revenue scale, say simply over 150% of the federal poverty degree. In order that they’re nonetheless gonna pay extra. They’re, it’s gonna go from paying type of a nationwide common of about $2 a month to 72 bucks a month, or $864 a 12 months. And keep in mind, that is someone who’s making 23,000 a 12 months. So $864 is some huge cash. 

Dan in interview: Emily, can you place that calculator again up on the display screen for us?

Emily in interview: Positive can.

Dan in interview: The scary calculator. I imply, what would occur in case your revenue have been just a bit bit decrease? In case you simply shave $3,000 out of your revenue, what does it look 

Emily in interview: So perhaps like 60? 

Julie Appleby: I guess you would even shave a little bit bit much less. Why didn’t you make it 62?

 (Sfx: Buzzer) 

Dan: How about 61? What does 61 do for us?

Emily in interview: Can I get a 61 

(SFX: Buzzer) 

 Dan: how about $60,500?

 (SFX: Buzzer) 

Dan in interview: I really feel like that is like an public sale reverse.

Julie Appleby: in reverse.

Emily in interview: I do know that is just like the public sale from hell

Dan in interview: Yeah, we’re, we’re reducing your revenue. So let’s hold going. $60,200,

 (SFX: Ding!) 

Dan in interview: That’s it. Holy crap it’s an enormous cliff. It’s a $5,000 cliff

Dan: Breaking in a single final time:  5 thousand {dollars} is how a lot cash Emily would possibly save on Obamacare premiums if her revenue stays beneath that 400 p.c line.  Put one other means: It’s how way more she’d must pay if she steps over that cliff.

Dan in interview: Julie, what does that seem like to you, seeing that?

Julie Appleby: I feel this additionally, this illustrates loads of issues. I imply, individuals are gonna must remember that cliff for subsequent 12 months if these tax credit aren’t prolonged. This can be a projection, that is what you assume you’re going to earn subsequent 12 months. In order that’s one factor that to bear in mind, okay? And one thing might occur. Emily might, I don’t know, perhaps she wins the lottery or she goes to the on line casino and wins a bunch of cash and that places her over. 

Emily in interview: Or gives me, you already know, a contract job that’s actually attention-grabbing. It doesn’t pay that a lot, however simply places me over, you already know? 

Dan in interview: You need to say, I’m sorry, that freelance job is gonna price me greater than $5,000 to just accept.

Dan: So, Emily: listening again to that dialog now. What are you feeling?

Emily: I imply, I used to be attempting to remain calm however internally I used to be freaking out. As Gen Z likes to say, I used to be crashing out.

Dan: It was actually emotional. We each wanted time to chill off, simply to place this story collectively.

Emily: Yeah, this case is hectic. I don’t know for certain how a lot cash I’m even going to make subsequent 12 months. And it feels sort of bizarre to place all this out right here. I don’t understand how any of this sounds to different folks. As a result of perhaps it appears like 400% of the federal degree is some huge cash. And in some elements of the nation it positively is. However I stay in New York Metropolis. So my revenue doesn’t go that far. And that $880 bucks a month we have been speaking about? That’s really an enormous hit. 

Dan: Yeah and — to not pile on, however: the information behind the calculator the place we received that quantity, 880 — that’s final 12 months’s information.  So it doesn’t embrace the massive premium will increase that Julie was writing about. The precise quantity you’d  be paying each month could be greater. And also you seemed up the deductible: greater than 4 thousand {dollars}. 

Emily: Proper, which I received’t have mendacity round initially of subsequent 12 months both. Yeah so truthfully, all of it nonetheless makes me need to scream. 

Dan: Yeah, and also you’re a case examine for a LOT of individuals. Julie learn us a very sobering quantity, the place one consulting group estimated that with this double-whammy Obamacare enrollment might drop by like half or extra. 

And, in reality, one of many causes insurers say they’re elevating costs this 12 months is– with out the improved subsidies, they determine loads of wholesome folks will simply choose out. 

Emily:  I can see why folks don’t join. I imply,  I don’t have that selection. However in an effort to get a subsidy, I’d must decrease my revenue, and to a really particular quantity – which is lower than I stay on now. And watch it to ensure I don’t absorb a penny extra. 

Dan: Whereas nonetheless paying lots of of {dollars} a month for Obamacare – even with a subsidy.

Emily: And look. This can be a factor lots of people do. On a regular basis. –deliberately restrict their revenue to qualify for help.. To maintain Medicaid, folks skip out on jobs, careers, marriage. 

 So my state of affairs is NOT distinctive. It’s positively not the worst.

Dan: You’re our in-house case examine. You’ll be able to’t stand in for everyone.

I imply, simply so as to add yet one more wrinkle: In case you didn’t stay in a super-expensive metropolis, your premiums would really be decrease..

I used that calculator to lookup what you’d pay for a silver plan in … Chicago, like the place I stay? Manner, means cheaper. Like, unsubsidized? Lots lower than a New York plan *with* a subsidy. I’m simply saying.

Emily: That’s… wild. No shade on Chicago However I don’t assume I’m able to make a protracted distance  transfer for medical health insurance but.

Dan: I’m simply saying… 

Emily: However whereas we’ve been waiting for 2026 insurance coverage, I’ve really had a more-immediate determination to make.

Dan: Proper.

Emily: LIke I mentioned earlier than, I had insurance coverage via my previous employer. However that’s ending. Whereas we have been doing this story, I had to determine medical health insurance for the final three months of 2025.

Dan: You ended up getting some assist from an actual professional.

Emily: I certain did.

Dan: And: I referred to as up An Arm and a Leg’s insurance coverage dealer.

As a result of like we mentioned: If Emily’s a case examine, so am I. We’re so small, and I’m the one one right here who’s wanted medical health insurance from this tiny little enterprise. Now, issues are a little bit totally different.

What we’ve realized, and what’s subsequent. That’s simply forward.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Well being Information. That’s a nonprofit newsroom masking well being points in America. Their journalists — like Julie Appleby — do superb work. We’re honored to be their colleagues.

Emily: Julie Appleby left me with a little bit recommendation: Join with an ACA navigator.

Dan: Navigators: These are of us who can information you thru the method of signing up for Obamacare. They’re not brokers, they don’t make a fee. They’re paid by the federal government. 

Emily: However they’re not authorities staff — native organizations work on government-funded contracts.

Dan: Which is sensible– Obamacare plans themselves are mainly native: The menu of plans to choose from, they don’t simply fluctuate from state to state: They are often totally different from one county to a different.

Emily: And I wished a little bit perspective on how the entire navigator program works.

Dan: And it seems: We all know somebody on the group that coordinates all of the navigators in New York state.

Elisabeth Benjamin: My identify is Elizabeth Benjamin. I’m Vice President for Well being Initiatives on the Neighborhood Service Society of New York.

Dan: We’ve spoken with Elisabeth earlier than — a bunch of instances — about her work pushing hospitals in NY to stop suing folks over medical debt.

And sure, it seems her store additionally runs the community of navigators all through New York.

Emily: However once we talked, it turned out, her connection to the navigator program is a little bit totally different than I’d anticipated.

Elisabeth Benjamin: I don’t, you already know, run it day after day, however I, myself do assist folks individually enroll. As a result of it’s actually essential to grasp what individuals are experiencing, what their issues are. I’ve like a small group of those who I assist yearly, A number of associates, youngsters.

Emily in interview: Oh, that’s superior. Okay. Yeah, I guess you’re like a fantastic like auntie to have..

Elisabeth Benjamin: You understand, those who flip 26 and the mother and father are like, I do know, please, will you assist me?

Emily: She was like: Look, everyone wants assist.

Elisabeth Benjamin: The underside line is, you already know, it isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. It’s exhausting to work via these web sites. I imply, they’re as person pleasant as potential, however there’s like little sort of little moguls that it’s a must to sort of ski over and it’s straightforward to sort of miss a mogul and faceplant, and we don’t need that to occur.

Emily: And after I informed her about how my story suits into this episode, she was instantly like.

Elisabeth Benjamin: Oh, properly, I may also help you.

Emily: Not with my entire 2026 dilemma: there’s simply no details about 2026 plans on the market but. However for my fast query — what do I do about the remainder of 2025 – she was like, I’m fairly free tomorrow.

Elisabeth Benjamin: You’ll be able to tape your enrollment.

Emily in interview: Oh my gosh, that may be superb.

Dan: Critically superb. I imply, it gave the impression of good tape, which we all the time like. 

But in addition — we talked that day, you and me: You have been actually weighing some huge selections. 

Emily: I imply one was: Do I join Obamacare for the remainder of the 12 months, or do I keep on my previous employer’s plan?

As a result of a legislation referred to as Cobra means they’ve to permit me to purchase in — however I’d must pay the entire month-to-month premium, which was SUPER excessive. Greater than a thousand {dollars}.

So Obamacare was wanting good. These additional subsidies are nonetheless in place via the tip of the 12 months.

Dan: There was a draw back.

Emily: Yeah — beginning a brand-new plan would imply beginning with a model new deductible– cash I’d must pay out of pocket earlier than the brand new insurance coverage kicked in for many issues.

Dan: These could be like 1000’s of {dollars}. 

Emily: Yeah, however then there was a tremendous shock: In New York, the place I stay, a brand new state legislation implies that all Obamacare plans embrace insulin with no copay. Even should you haven’t paid out and hit your deductible. That’s a deal I’ve *by no means* gotten from any insurance coverage, ever.

AND this deal included different diabetes provides — like my steady glucose monitor. That stuff could be massively costly.

So my considering was like: I’ll seize the most affordable Obamacare plan– and get all my diabetes provides — and I’ll strive to not go to the physician for the remainder of the 12 months. 

Elisabeth Benjamin: Okay, so prepared?

Emily in interview: I’m prepared.

Emily: The subsequent morning, I confirmed up at Elisabeth Benjamin’s condo.

Elisabeth Benjamin: All proper. So Emily, right here you’re, you’re on my dashboard. Oh, wait, right here I could make this simpler for you. Let’s do the massive display screen. Okay. 

Emily: Elisabeth began strolling me via the appliance.  Title, date of start, deal with… fairly routine to start out. 

Elisabeth Benjamin: That’s your telephone quantity…

Emily: And at this stage I’m questioning if I ought to’ve simply executed all of it myself and left poor Elisabeth alone.

However after some time — as soon as we began really plans, I used to be like: Oh wow. Elisabeth was in a position to like actually zip via issues. It was a complete vibe.

Elisabeth Benjamin: Maintain on one second. That’s not, that’s not essential I wanna see if that is in community…

Emily: And he or she noticed issues I might have completely missed.

Elisabeth Benjamin: So that is sort of an attention-grabbing plan. ’trigger you’d be capable to go to a health care provider or a specialist earlier than the deductible.

Dan: Wait, you would do a health care provider go to earlier than you spent that deductible? That’s a factor?

Emily: Yeah, in that one plan, I assume? However even Elisabeth needed to actually dig to determine that out. 

Elisabeth Benjamin: Like see, it’s type of a little bit irritating since you wouldn’t, you couldn’t actually inform that from this. For this reason it’s useful to have a navigator

Emily: I imply, super-helpful: With Elisabeth’s assist, I received a plan 

Elisabeth Benjamin: and you’re executed. 

Emily: the place OK, I can’t really SEE a health care provider earlier than the deductible. Not in individual. However I CAN do telehealth. So if god forbid I get some sort of bizarre an infection, I might get a prescription. Oh, and my precise physician, like my endocrinologist, is roofed. And the deductible is way, a lot decrease than the opposite plans I’d been . I imply, it’s nonetheless scary as hell, however HALF as scary-as-hell?

Dan: And the one catch is: You need to do that once more in November or December. Besides then — until Congress extends the additional subsidies — it’s possible you’ll be a lot greater month-to-month funds.

Emily: Proper. Truly, let’s come again to me in a minute. As a result of the excellent news in my case: Not less than I’ll be capable to get Elisabeth’s assist once more. Like, she provided to, which was so good. But in addition: even when she’s super-busy, I’ll be capable to speak to a different navigator. As a result of I stay in New York.

Dan: Yeah. This is without doubt one of the issues we realized from Elisabeth. It goes again one of many causes we wished to speak together with her within the first place. As a result of there’s one other huge change with Obamacare this 12 months: the federal authorities is reducing funding for navigators by like 90 p.c. We wished to listen to from Elisabeth — how is that gonna have an effect on her group’s work.

Emily: And — this was a shock: She mentioned it received’t have an effect on her work in any respect– as a result of New York navigators are funded by the state authorities. Seems the identical factor is true for about half the states. However I talked with Elisabeth’s counterpart in a state the place that’s not the case. 

Nicholas Riggs: We’re not gonna be capable to attain the variety of folks we did earlier than. That’s simply actuality. You’ll be able to’t do extra with much less. Individuals will lose their protection due to this.

Emily: That’s Nicholas Riggs. He runs the NC Navigator Consortium.

Nicholas Riggs: We cowl all 100 counties. We’re the one navigator entity in North Carolina.

Emily: He says an enormous piece of their work is definitely outreach– discovering individuals who could not know they will get this type of assist.

Nicholas Riggs: You understand, there’s no listing of the uninsured.

Emily: They usually don’t simply assist folks decide Obamacare plans– they assist folks join Medicaid. A 90 p.c finances minimize hits all of that. He says they’re in search of extra volunteer navigators, but it surely received’t be the identical as having skilled employees. 

Nicholas Riggs: What you’re shedding is institutional data. Volunteer navigators are nice. However typically it takes just a few years to essentially get a deal with on some extra advanced circumstances.

Dan: I imply, Emily — you skilled first hand how huge a deal it was to hae, like,  an actual professional stroll you thru this course of.

Emily: Elisabeth spent virtually an hour with me!

Dan: Lots of people received’t have entry to that sort of assist. It’s yet one more crummy factor we’re attempting to assist folks plan for. You discovered a map that exhibits which states fund their very own navigators. We’ll submit a hyperlink — so folks can see what the deal is of their state.

And Emily, let’s come again to you for a minute: You’re fortunate to have entry to the world’s best navigator, however until Congress extends the improved subsidies, that subsequent dialog together with her is gonna be rather a lot more durable.

Emily: I imply, until I get one other job with medical health insurance first. 

Dan: So, about that: When you have been having your first dialog with Elisabeth, I used to be speaking with An Arm and a Leg’s medical health insurance dealer, Kurt Kaufman.

As a result of I used to be like: What can I do to make it potential for Emily to stay round?

I requested Kurt, might we set issues up for Emily to purchase into An Arm and a Leg’s plan? Like, in any respect?

Our insurance coverage is from Blue Cross Blue Protect of Illinois. Might it cowl Emily in New York? He was like

Kurt Ok: Yeah, that’s advantageous.

Dan: Then she,

Kurt Ok: 100%.

Dan: She could possibly be insured on our Illinois primarily based plan, 

despite the fact that she’s in New York.. Is that proper?

Kurt Ok: All day lengthy.

Dan: All day lengthy,

Kurt Ok: yep., 

Oh, yeah.

Dan: So I used to be like: Um, how a lot wouldn’t it COST?

He mentioned, primarily based in your age — insurance coverage will get dearer as you become older — like, 5, 600.

Emily: That’s a LOT lower than what the scary calculator mentioned I’d pay for a Silver plan with no subsidies. That was displaying like 9 hundred {dollars}.

Dan: Yeah. I imply: These are 2025 numbers, identical to the whole lot else we’ve been . All the things in 2026 is gonna be greater. Nevertheless it looks as if An Arm and a Leg will get a greater deal than you’d get with Obamacare. Nonetheless, there’s a however. You’d should be full-time.

Emily: Aha!

Dan: Yeah. I imply we’ve received you at 20 hours every week.

Emily: Yeah.

Dan: I used to be like Oh my god. I’d must DOUBLE that? However Kurt was like: Truly, no. The best way insurance coverage appears to be like at it, should you have been working a median of 30 hours every week, then you would qualify.

Kurt Ok: She could possibly be assembly that definition of quote unquote full-time worker.

Dan:  Which, you already know, isn’t in my finances for subsequent 12 months– and I’m nonetheless working to ensure another elements of our scrappy little finances get funded– but it surely’s not DOUBLE. I’m beginning to consider it– like, a stretch objective. I imply, I’d LOVE to have extra of your time. I dunno.

Emily: I imply I like the thought rather a lot! However there are only a lot of unknowns, proper?

Dan: Yeah, right here’s the place we’ve landed: You’ve received medical health insurance lined up for the remainder of 2025. And after that, there’s a lot we don’t know. Will I discover more cash? Will you’re taking one other job? 

And: Will Congress lengthen the improved subsidies? Once we first began engaged on this story, over the summer time, consultants have been like, “That’s not gonna occur.”

However in the previous few weeks, SOME Republicans have been proposing it. We positively don’t know — and it’s nothing we are able to depend on.

It’s all, truthfully, a little bit scary.

Emily: Actually, greater than a little bit.

Dan: BUT: We all know greater than we did. We’ve began actually confronting the scary numbers and the unknowns. You’ve taken a observe run at choosing insurance coverage.

Emily: That was really sort of an enormous factor.

Dan: It was, proper?  And: I’ve began fascinated with stretch targets.

We’re extra ready.

And — right here was the purpose of doing this entire case examine– I HOPE we’ve simply helped loads of different folks get extra ready, to start out planning. 

We’ll hold you posted on how issues go for us. Some updates will present up in our First Help Equipment e-newsletter. 

In case you’re not getting First Help Equipment, go test it out. 

Emily: Whereas we have been reporting this story, we printed a information there: Prepare, emotionally and financially, for 2026 medical health insurance.

Dan:  It has hyperlinks to sources we talked about right here, and we’ll have extra on this week’s First Help Equipment. 

What you wanna do is go tor at Arm and a Leg present dot com, slash, first help package.

You’ll discover the entire archive there — together with notes about truthfully, some extraordinarily thrilling initiatives that Arm and a Leg listeners are doing — and how one can pitch in. 

We’ll be again with one other podcast episode in just a few weeks. Until then, handle your self.

Emily: This episode of An Arm and a Leg was produced by me, Emily Pisacreta 

Dan: and me, Dan Weissmann. 

Emily: With assist from Janmaris Perez and Lauren Gould.

Dan: And edited by Ellen Weiss.

Dan: Adam Raymonda is our audio wizard. Claire Davenport is our engagement producer.

Dan: Our music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Classes.

Dan: Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations.

Large due to Lynne Johnson, who simply wrapped up her run as our operations supervisor. Lynne, your work has executed SO a lot to make our work extra sustainable. I can’t thanks sufficient.

Dan: An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Well being Information. That’s a nationwide newsroom producing in-depth journalism about well being points in America — and a core program at KFF: an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism.

Dan: Zach Dyer is senior audio producer at KFF Well being Information. He’s the editorial liaison to this present.

Dan: An Arm and a Leg is Distributed by KUOW — Seattle’s NPR station.

Dan: And because of the Institute for Nonprofit Information for serving as our fiscal sponsor.

Dan: They permit us to just accept tax-exempt donations. You’ll be able to study extra about INN at INN.org.Dan: Lastly, thanks to everyone who helps this present financially. You’ll be able to take part any time at Arm and a Leg present, dot com, slash: help.

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KFF Well being Information and Public Highway Productions.

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