Democrats created the regulations that drive up premiums, subsidized the resulting costs instead of fixing them, and fought to keep cheaper alternatives out of reach. If they want more Americans to have health insurance, the answer isn’t another round of subsidies. It’s dismantling the regulations that have made coverage unaffordable in the first place.
Across all Obamacare marketplace plans, the average monthly premium paid by enrollees after subsidies jumped 58% this year, from $113 to $178. Average deductibles climbed 37%, to $3,786.
Those increases didn’t come out of nowhere. Insurers raised underlying Obamacare premiums by a median of 20% for 2026 — the steepest increase in years.
Obamacare’s regulations are a major reason why. The law requires insurers to cover ten “essential” benefits, whether customers want them or not. It also restricts how much insurers can vary premiums based on age and prohibits charging people more because of their health status.
These mandates make coverage more expensive for many consumers, particularly younger and healthier Americans who might prefer less comprehensive, lower-cost policies.
And what do they get for their money? Often, insurance with thousands of dollars in deductibles and limited networks of doctors and hospitals.
Worse, Democratic policymakers have worked to eliminate some of the affordable alternatives.
Consider short-term health insurance. Originally designed to fill temporary gaps in coverage, these policies aren’t subject to Obamacare’s costly benefit mandates and pricing restrictions.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Millions of Americans are walking away from Obamacare
Sally C. Pipes
Democrats created the regulations that drive up premiums, subsidized the resulting costs instead of fixing them, and fought to keep cheaper alternatives out of reach. If they want more Americans to have health insurance, the answer isn’t another round of subsidies. It’s dismantling the regulations that have made coverage unaffordable in the first place.
Across all Obamacare marketplace plans, the average monthly premium paid by enrollees after subsidies jumped 58% this year, from $113 to $178. Average deductibles climbed 37%, to $3,786.
Those increases didn’t come out of nowhere. Insurers raised underlying Obamacare premiums by a median of 20% for 2026 — the steepest increase in years.
Obamacare’s regulations are a major reason why. The law requires insurers to cover ten “essential” benefits, whether customers want them or not. It also restricts how much insurers can vary premiums based on age and prohibits charging people more because of their health status.
These mandates make coverage more expensive for many consumers, particularly younger and healthier Americans who might prefer less comprehensive, lower-cost policies.
And what do they get for their money? Often, insurance with thousands of dollars in deductibles and limited networks of doctors and hospitals.
Worse, Democratic policymakers have worked to eliminate some of the affordable alternatives.
Consider short-term health insurance. Originally designed to fill temporary gaps in coverage, these policies aren’t subject to Obamacare’s costly benefit mandates and pricing restrictions.
Read the entire op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.