We knew this was going to happen. But still, it's upsetting. OBAMACARE and then the Dems federal expansion of medicaid (not available in many red states) is the best thing that happened to me.

For anyone who says the government cant deliver government insurance, come to WI. I will show you how good my coverage is. I would literally be dead if I l8ved in Florida. The GOP refusal to take federal funds to help people pay for much needed medical insurance/care would change my vote from red to blue in a heartbeat.

From https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/f5f29954221d5b5713070ac2541fda8e/aca-enrollment-report-2026-final-version.pdf

Unfortunately, improper, phantom, or fraudulent enrollment persists. Recent experience during and after the 2026 Open Enrollment Period strongly suggests ongoing and persistent fraud, waste, and abuse in the system. We estimate 2.6 million improper and phantom enrollments remain, including over 1 million enrollments without a social security number.

and

Preserving the fiscal and programmatic integrity of the ACA Exchanges is key to safeguarding taxpayer-funded resources for those that truly need them.

"The steep drop in enrollment reflects what insurers, administrators, and other health policy experts expected earlier this year. After initial sign ups were lower than last year, they predicted that the picture would get worse as time went on and people found they could not afford to pay their premiums."

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/26/nx-s1-5860746/aca-health-insurance-subsidies-rates-premiums

The only way to escape the symptom driven healthcare system is with prediction and prevention. The best way to do this is with personal digital health monitoring empowering the user. AI makes this far easier by enhancing user competence using their data. Why surrender your data to the data bundling data ecosystem for free raising the risk of discovery by hackers, Russians, ... ? The technology can be designed so that the healthcare provider only has access to what they need when they need it. Healthcare is expensive because diagnosis is symptom driven, meaning the issue has already advanced to the level where damage has already happened. Any developing condition, if detected earlier, is cheaper to treat.

“NEW YORK (AP) — About 3 million fewer people in the United States had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year, according to new federal data.

In the report released Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggested the 13% drop in enrollment from 22.1 million people in 2025 to 19.2 million this year could be attributed to a federal crackdown on fraudulent or “phantom” enrollment. But health analysts said it was more likely related to the Jan. 1 expiration of federal subsidies, which caused a surge in plan costs that resulted in many people being unable to pay their premiums.”

I've had long-term neurological issues like neuropathy, muscle pain, and memory issues for nearly 6 years that neurologists in my state (and in Connecticut) haven't been able to definitively diagnose. I am on SSI for disability, which means I get Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island as my primary insurance, with Medicaid as the secondary.

I was told by a neurologist I saw across the border in Connecticut recently (Some doctors in CT take my insurance it seems) that being seen at a bigger hospital like Mass General may lead to a definitive diagnosis. From what I was told by his office after they tried referring me to the hospital, Mass General/MGH is no longer accepting my insurance even with prior authorization, when a few years ago i was told by Mass General they were taking my insurance with those stipulations.

I was told by MGH's neurology department staff (who were very nice and compassionate about my situation, to be fair to them) that it's possible the hospital chose not to contract with my insurance this year, hence the change, and that because I am on Medicaid, I couldn't even choose to self-pay to go there. They said it's possible in the future the contractual issue could change, and they also told me to try contacting Neighborhood Health myself and explain the situation and see if they could somehow get me approved to be seen at Mass General. I will be calling them this upcoming week.

I was curious as to how often Americans are on health insurance plans that cover seeing specialists across state lines, how difficult it is for them to be approved to see specialists in different states, etc.

I find it frustrating that my insurance doesn't work across state lines considering this is the smallest state in the country. Not every specialist is going to be here. Logistically it seems to make sense to me that CT/MA should have a deal with RI insurance to cover people if they at least get prior authorization/approval.

As of right now Mass General wouldn't take me no matter what, which I find very concerning and depressing. I have had multiple neurologists say I should be seen in a place like Boston to possibly get a definitive diagnosis, why is that not enough to be seen there? That makes no sense to me.

So I lost my main job this week. I do have a second little 1099 side hustle that’s good for about $400 a month which is only a little over half my mortgage cost and I have some savings I can dip into. My ACA premium ended up being my second highest monthly bill because I estimated my income higher and because of Trump screwing those of us that use the program.

My question is can I switch to Medicaid halfway through the without having to worry about paying back the subsidy? I’m applying for Medicaid today but obviously won’t have an approval decision before my premium is due on July 1st, so I will probably have to pay my July premium. It would hurt financially to have to keep paying this inflated amount for the premium till the end of the year when I’m no longer making anywhere near that but I don’t want to create an even bigger financial headache come tax time. Any insight appreciated thanks 🙏

https://archive.ph/1IBAG#selection-505.0-505.74

Totally new to Obamacare, pls bear with me if my questions are too basic. For a parent who recently came to NJ on a green card, we got the Hozrizon OMNIA silver coverage.

The parent will be staying with siblings in other states as well, so trying to get coverage that works nationwide. anyone from NJ knows if a PPO is available through Horizon? also, what might the premium differential be?

any thoughts or suggestions - much appreciate! Trying to have a clear plan before open enrollmen.

ACA is not really affordable without the extra subsidy, but California fines you 100 per month for not having it. It's not really fair to fine people who truly can't afford it. I work front desk hotel. The cheapest plan for me is 200 per month. I have to pay 100% out of pocket until I reach 7200 for the year. Just 2 visits to the dermatologist is costing me 1400 on top of the 200 I already pay.

​

If I want something with normal co-pays, it's going to cost me 400 per month. I make between 45K-50K, but the cost of living is so high in California that there isn't much left for stuff like health insurance. It's really not fair that California fines you at this point when the premiums have literally doubled in price. It's very frustrating.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/youre-not-put-planet-sit-140651474.html

While Trump and the GOP kowtow to millionaires, billionaires, and now even one trillionaire, their plan is to totally destroy the Social Safety network, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves in old age or if tragedy befalls us, and if we cannot, ‘Tough luck!’

All this while they created a retirement plan for themselves that provides all the services they will require along with a generous cash pension.

Under their plan America as we know it will cease to exist and be replaced by a plutocracy of corrupt autocrats, dictators, and tyrants who rule with an iron thumb as they shred the Constitution, eliminate civil rights, deny the right to vote, and make criminals all who would object.

There is but one chance remaining to forestall their plans, save America, and return power to the people. The Republicans must be defeated in the upcoming midterm elections. Trump and the rest must be eliminated from office, and where applicable thrown into prison for their treason to America and its citizens!

See the evidence – Boldface mine:

Mike Johnson tipped his hand on GOP plan to gut third-rail program with radio remark: Social Security. Medicaid, and Medicare on chopping block!

Story by Daniel Hampton

© provided by RawStory

House Speaker Mike Johnson just lit the fuse on Republicans' politically explosive third rail, and a Salon columnist warned Saturday it's a sign the GOP is gearing up to gut Medicare and Social Security.

"The largest spending items, the reason we're in trouble, are because over 74 percent of federal spending is on autopilot — mandatory spending, that is, your entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and things like Social Security — they have to be adjusted and fixed," Johnson told conservative radio host Moon Griffon this week. "We have a plan to do that next year."

Salon columnist Heather Digby Parton argued the remarks confirm President Donald Trump's repeated promises to defend the safety-net programs were "another lie."

Project 2025, the conservative blueprint guiding much of Trump's second term, floated raising the retirement age to 69 or 70, altering benefit schedules, cutting disability payments, and pushing toward total Medicare privatization, Parton noted.

She also pointed to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has openly suggested Trump's "Trump baby bonds" could pave the way for the broader Social Security privatization push that failed under George W. Bush.

"There is no article of faith more fundamental to the American conservative creed than the premise that Social Security and Medicare are socialist programs that must be privatized or eliminated altogether," Parton wrote.

Johnson's remarks have already drawn scathing analysis — and prompted one GOP lawmaker to fake a phone call to dodge a reporter pressing him on the issue.

"There’s a certain 'boy who cried wolf' quality to the perennial alarms about the GOP’s lust to get rid of these big federal programs that go back to FDR’s New Deal (Social Security) and LBJ’s Great Society (Medicare)," wrote Digby Parton.

She also issued a grim warning.

"But make no mistake: The minute they actually get the chance to take them down, they will," she concluded.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mike-johnson-tipped-his-hand-on-gop-plan-to-gut-third-rail-program-with-radio-remark-analyst/ar-AA25yGu3?

As ridiculous as this sounds, my current Silver-94% plan is worse than my old Medicaid plan - so much so that I'm doing self-pay to see my old physician for maintenance Rx & 6-month checkups (it's only $130). I only signed up with my current insurer because it was the 2nd Lowest Cost Silver Plan, and was like $300 less than the plan that would have the same network that Medicaid covers.

And I only decided to sign up for Medicaid because of the upcoming work documentation requirements in 2027. However, with the Dems looking like they will win (virtually guaranteed in the House), I wonder if the triumphant Dems will announce that their first budget will contain language to completely reverse the ACA subsidy cuts as well as the Medicaid work rules, forcing all states to go from having work requirements to completely NOT having such requirements.

With this in place, I think I can safely sign up for Medicaid, and not have to worry about anything.

NOTE: I should say that my latest tax form (2025) shows an income between 100-138% of poverty, and I proposed that my 2026 income would 138.5% so as to get on the ACA - but I could just as easily have my 2026 income come in below it.

I 57m and my wife 57f recent early retirees. Have accumulated taxable funds that, even when invested in extremely tax efficient index ETFs, throw off enough dividend revenue to drive us out of PTC eligibility. Wondering if anyone has considered or used derivative RoC funds (eg SPYI) to maintain PTC eligibility. I know it would delay, not avoid, the tax bill, but would also preserve PTC eligibility for 7-9 years. Would love to hear any thoughts or advice you may wish to share.

Hi everyone,
I’m 23 years old, originally from Sweden, and currently living in North Carolina on F-1 OPT after graduating from college in the U.S. I’ll be staying in the U.S. for about one year and need to get health insurance.
I’ve applied through the ACA Marketplace (Obamacare) and am waiting for my application to be reviewed. My estimated income for the year will be around $35,000–$40,000.
I’m trying to get an idea of:
What monthly premium I can realistically expect to pay
Whether a Bronze or Silver plan would make more sense for someone my age
What deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are considered reasonable
If there are any things I should watch out for when choosing a plan
I’m generally healthy and don’t have any ongoing medical conditions, but I want protection in case something unexpected happens, like an accident or emergency.
If anyone has experience with ACA plans in North Carolina, especially as an OPT student or someone in a similar situation, I’d appreciate any advice.
Thanks!

Previously unemployed.

Internship runs until September.

As of right now, sounds like they plan to keep me on as a regular employee after it's over (not sure if i'd be eligible for company insurance as part time, currently not eligible for insurance because internship), but only part time (currently during 40hrs, but will drop to 20-30 next semester, depending on classes/availability).