As millions of Americans open notices about their 2026 health insurance premiums, the sticker shock is real. Average out-of-pocket premiums are expected to more than double — $888 annually in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026 — due to the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. The political fight over these subsidies has dominated headlines and even triggered a government shutdown.
But as Washington debates the critical question of how much Americans should pay for health ...