“An Arm and a Leg” senior producer Emily Pisacreta not too long ago misplaced a job that supplied her with medical health insurance. So now, for the primary time, she can be signing up for Obamacare.
Her search is off to a rocky begin. Pisacreta provides listeners a sobering have a look at how the excessive worth of medical health insurance plans may change her life and people of hundreds of thousands of others searching for Inexpensive Care Act plans, as premiums, on common, are projected to extend by greater than they’ve in recent times.
Joined by “An Arm and a Leg” host Dan Weissmann and KFF Well being Information senior correspondent Julie Appleby, Pisacreta examines how latest price range cuts by the Trump administration for navigators — the folks charged with serving to people, households, and companies join ACA plans — may make it tougher to search out the precise plan and to pinpoint what folks can count on in November when open enrollment kicks off.
Dan Weissmann
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 of,” Market, the BBC, “99% Invisible,” and “Reveal” from the Heart for Investigative Reporting.
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Emily Pisacreta
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Ellen Weiss
Editor
Adam Raymonda
Audio wizard
Janmaris Perez
Producer
Lauren Gould
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Transcript: The Wrestle 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 comprise errors. Please use the transcript as a device however test the corresponding audio earlier than quoting the podcast.
Dan: Hey there–
Over the summer season, our friends at KFF Well being Information printed a narrative with the headline: “Insurers and clients brace for double whammy to Obamacare premiums.”
Principally– whammy primary — insurers are planning to boost premiums for 2026 —
And whammy quantity two: federal subsidies for Obamacare insurance policies are scheduled to get quite a bit much less beneficiant.
Collectively, these whammies imply hundreds of thousands of individuals can be taking a look at paying a LOT extra each month — like lots of of {dollars} extra.
Of us are going to want as a lot advance warning as potential, to determine the right way to put together for a success like that.
That means: That is our type of story.
And this one hits somewhat near dwelling. 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 by way of 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 would like.
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 particular person apart from me to work quite a lot of hours per week. We didn’t have an worker well being plan as a result of we didn’t have workers.
And we’re nonetheless so tiny, so tiny. Aside from summer season interns, there’s nonetheless solely ever been one different particular person working quite a lot of hours per week apart from the 2 of us. I’m nonetheless the one full-time particular person, and we nonetheless don’t have an worker well being plan.
Emily: And till not too long ago, 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 taking a look at open enrollment. And I gotta say, it’s one hell of a yr 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 you then’ve continued to do extra homework.
Emily: It’s been fairly intense!
Dan: For actual. And I’m somewhat little bit of a case examine too:
All of the sudden I’m discovering out what our nation’s “system” — the place medical health insurance will get tied to jobs — seems like … from the employer aspect. It’s a complete new journey.
We don’t know precisely what we’re going to do. Truthfully, I don’t suppose 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 might help a number of different folks begin planning early with strong info. 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 possibly 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 some of the enraging, terrifying, miserable components of American life, and convey you a present that’s entertaining, empowering, and helpful.
So, we began by checking in with the particular person whose reporting first obtained us taking a look at this story.
Julie Appleby: It’s recording. It seems 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 we have now 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, may you similar 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 every part from value to, the Inexpensive Care Act, to what’s happening with Medicare, every kind of various issues involving well being care applications and insurance coverage.
Emily in interview: So we had been actually excited to speak with you, as a result of we needed to cowl, you understand, all of the modifications to {the marketplace} plans, that you just’ve been writing about. And, it simply so occurs that I have to enroll in a market plan.
Julie Appleby: So let’s offer you type of the rundown. There’s like, there’s type of like two issues happening right here. One in all them is that simply premiums are going up as they do yearly. Though this yr it’s larger than it’s been since 2018. So the median improve nationwide, and that is in response to some knowledge analysis by KFF, is about 18%. In order that’s a giant leap, proper?
Emily in interview: Yeah. Yeah. In your reporting you known 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 occasions for Obamacare vocabulary. Emily simply talked about an necessary time period, glided by kinda quick: enhanced subsidies. Obamacare has all the time included subsidies for most individuals — that’s a part of the “Inexpensive” a part of Inexpensive Care Act. However for many folks, Obamacare insurance policies nonetheless had been… fairly costly!
So, in 2021 — like, as a part of a COVID restoration bundle — Congress added further subsidies for Obamacare insurance policies: Enhanced subsidies.
Julie Appleby: Principally, they made the protection extra beneficiant on each ends of the revenue spectrum. Actually, I believe I used to be taking a look at 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 a giant chunk. With “enhanced” subsidies, that grew to become ten {dollars} — and even zero.
However folks with greater incomes additionally obtained assist. Earlier than the improved subsidies, folks with incomes above a sure degree didn’t get ANY subsidy. Individuals known as it an “revenue cliff.”
For the final 4 years these enhanced subsidies, type of erased that cliff. In case your revenue was greater, you simply paid a share of your revenue. Enhanced subsidies picked up the remaining.
However the enhanced subsidies weren’t everlasting. They’ll expire on the finish of this yr, except Congress extends them. In any other case…
Julie Appleby: individuals who make greater than the 4 occasions the federal poverty degree is not going to qualify for any assist with their premiums beneath the Inexpensive Care Act. There can be that cliff.
Emily in interview: Proper, proper.
Dan: And it seems Emily is principally standing on that cliff. She reveals 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 possibly I’ll simply share my display screen and we are able to have a look at – we are able to have a look at what I’m taking a look at.
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 probably lose monetary assist. As a result of my revenue is 418% of the federal poverty degree.
Dan: Oy. somewhat extra Obamacare vocabulary. First: Federal poverty degree. 4 occasions that degree is the place you fall off the revenue cliff, no subsidies. 400 %. And the calculator – which we must always say, is a yr out-of-date, so the numbers aren’t exact, however they provide us an concept– that calculator says Emily’s at 418.
And subsequent: Obamacare plans come in numerous “ranges,” like Olympic medals: Bronze, Silver, Gold… Bronze plans are the most cost effective, and canopy the least.
If Emily obtained a subsidy, the calculator says a silver plan could be like 400-and some {dollars} a month, however it says Emily wouldn’t GET a subsidy, so…
Emily in interview: It might be about $880 a month for a silver plan, or $675 a month for a bronze plan. So for me, that’s worrying to learn.
Julie Appleby: That’s some huge cash. 880 bucks a month. So that you’re within the scenario 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 every of these calculators too after I wrote a narrative not too long ago. And I additionally plugged in any person, let’s say who’s earnings are type of on the decrease finish of the revenue scale, say simply over 150% of the federal poverty degree. So that they’re nonetheless gonna pay extra. They’re, it’s gonna go from paying kind of a nationwide common of about $2 a month to 72 bucks a month, or $864 a yr. And bear in mind, that is any person who’s making 23,000 a yr. So $864 is some huge cash.
Dan in interview: Emily, can you set that calculator again up on the display screen for us?
Emily in interview: Certain can.
Dan in interview: The scary calculator. I imply, what would occur in case your revenue had been just a bit bit decrease? When you simply shave $3,000 out of your revenue, what does it look
Emily in interview: So possibly like 60?
Julie Appleby: I wager you may even shave somewhat 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 preserve 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 may save on Obamacare premiums if her revenue stays beneath that 400 % line. Put one other method: It’s how far more she’d must pay if she steps over that cliff.
Dan in interview: Julie, what does that appear to be to you, seeing that?
Julie Appleby: I believe this additionally, this illustrates a number of issues. I imply, persons are gonna must remember that cliff for subsequent yr if these tax credit aren’t prolonged. It is a projection, that is what you suppose you’re going to earn subsequent yr. In order that’s one factor that to remember, okay? And one thing may occur. Emily may, I don’t know, possibly 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 affords me, you understand, a contract job that’s actually fascinating. It doesn’t pay that a lot, however simply places me over, you understand?
Dan in interview: It’s important to say, I’m sorry, that freelance job is gonna value 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 making an attempt 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 example is worrying. I don’t know for positive how a lot cash I’m even going to make subsequent yr. And it feels type 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 possibly it seems like 400% of the federal degree is some huge cash. And in some components 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 had been speaking about? That’s really a giant hit.
Dan: Yeah and — to not pile on, however: the information behind the calculator the place we obtained that quantity, 880 — that’s final yr’s knowledge. 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 larger. And also you regarded up the deductible: greater than 4 thousand {dollars}.
Emily: Proper, which I gained’t have mendacity round at the start of subsequent yr 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 extremely sobering quantity, the place one consulting group estimated that with this double-whammy Obamacare enrollment may drop by like half or extra.
And, the truth is, one of many causes insurers say they’re elevating costs this yr is– with out the improved subsidies, they determine a number of wholesome folks will simply decide out.
Emily: I can see why folks don’t enroll. I imply, I don’t have that alternative. However with a view 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 verify 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. It is 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 scenario is NOT distinctive. It’s positively not the worst.
Dan: You’re our in-house case examine. You may’t stand in for everyone.
I imply, simply so as to add another wrinkle: When you didn’t stay in a super-expensive metropolis, your premiums would really be decrease..
I used that calculator to search for what you’d pay for a silver plan in … Chicago, like the place I stay? Means, method 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 suppose 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 looking forward to 2026 insurance coverage, I’ve really had a more-immediate resolution to make.
Dan: Proper.
Emily: LIke I mentioned earlier than, I had insurance coverage by way of my outdated employer. However that’s ending. Whereas we had 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 knowledgeable.
Emily: I positive did.
Dan: And: I known 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 somewhat 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 wonderful work. We’re honored to be their colleagues.
Emily: Julie Appleby left me with somewhat 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 workers — native organizations work on government-funded contracts.
Dan: Which is smart– Obamacare plans themselves are principally native: The menu of plans to select from, they don’t simply range from state to state: They are often totally different from one county to a different.
Emily: And I needed somewhat 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 occasions — 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 somewhat totally different than I’d anticipated.
Elisabeth Benjamin: I don’t, you understand, run it day after day, however I, myself do assist folks individually enroll. As a result of it’s actually necessary to grasp what persons are experiencing, what their considerations are. I’ve like a small group of folks that I assist yearly, Plenty of mates, kids.
Emily in interview: Oh, that’s superior. Okay. Yeah, I wager you’re like a terrific like auntie to have..
Elisabeth Benjamin: , folks that 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 understand, it isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. It’s onerous to work by way of these web sites. I imply, they’re as person pleasant as potential, however there’s like little type of little moguls that you need to type of ski over and it’s straightforward to type of miss a mogul and faceplant, and we don’t need that to occur.
Emily: And after I instructed her about how my story matches into this episode, she was instantly like.
Elisabeth Benjamin: Oh, properly, I might help you.
Emily: Not with my complete 2026 dilemma: there’s simply no details about 2026 plans on the market but. However for my instant query — what do I do about the remainder of 2025 – she was like, I’m fairly free tomorrow.
Elisabeth Benjamin: You may tape your enrollment.
Emily in interview: Oh my gosh, that might be wonderful.
Dan: Significantly wonderful. I imply, it gave the impression of good tape, which we all the time like.
But additionally — we talked that day, you and me: You had been actually weighing some huge selections.
Emily: I imply one was: Do I join Obamacare for the remainder of the yr, or do I keep on my outdated employer’s plan?
As a result of a regulation known 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 trying good. These further subsidies are nonetheless in place by way of the top of the yr.
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 hundreds of {dollars}.
Emily: Yeah, however then there was an incredible shock: In New York, the place I stay, a brand new state regulation signifies that all Obamacare plans embrace insulin with no copay. Even in case 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 vastly costly.
So my considering was like: I’ll seize the most cost effective Obamacare plan– and get all my diabetes provides — and I’ll strive to not go to the physician for the remainder of the yr.
Elisabeth Benjamin: Okay, so prepared?
Emily in interview: I’m prepared.
Emily: The following morning, I confirmed up at Elisabeth Benjamin’s condo.
Elisabeth Benjamin: All proper. So Emily, right here you might be, 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 by way of the appliance. Identify, date of delivery, tackle… fairly routine to begin.
Elisabeth Benjamin: That’s your cellphone quantity…
Emily: And at this stage I’m questioning if I ought to’ve simply performed all of it myself and left poor Elisabeth alone.
However after some time — as soon as we began really taking a look at plans, I used to be like: Oh wow. Elisabeth was capable of like actually zip by way of issues. It was a complete vibe.
Elisabeth Benjamin: Maintain on one second. That’s not, that’s not necessary I wanna see if that is in community…
Emily: And she or he noticed issues I’d have completely missed.
Elisabeth Benjamin: So that is type of an fascinating plan. ’trigger you’ll be capable to go to a physician or a specialist earlier than the deductible.
Dan: Wait, you may do a physician 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 kind of somewhat irritating since you wouldn’t, you couldn’t actually inform that from this. Because of this it’s useful to have a navigator
Emily: I imply, super-helpful: With Elisabeth’s assist, I obtained a plan
Elisabeth Benjamin: and you’re performed.
Emily: the place OK, I can’t really SEE a physician earlier than the deductible. Not in particular person. However I CAN do telehealth. So if god forbid I get some type of bizarre an infection, I may 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 taking a look at. I imply, it’s nonetheless scary as hell, however HALF as scary-as-hell?
Dan: And the one catch is: It’s important to do that another time in November or December. Besides then — except Congress extends the additional subsidies — you might be taking a look at 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: At the very least I’ll be capable to get Elisabeth’s assist once more. Like, she provided to, which was so good. But additionally: even when she’s super-busy, I’ll be capable to discuss to a different navigator. As a result of I stay in New York.
Dan: Yeah. This is likely one of the issues we realized from Elisabeth. It goes again one of many causes we needed to speak along with her within the first place. As a result of there’s one other huge change with Obamacare this yr: the federal authorities is reducing funding for navigators by like 90 %. We needed 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 gained’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 isn’t 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 may’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 a giant piece of their work is definitely outreach– discovering individuals who might not know they’ll get this type of assist.
Nicholas Riggs: , there’s no record of the uninsured.
Emily: And so they don’t simply assist folks decide Obamacare plans– they assist folks join Medicaid. A 90 % price range reduce hits all of that. He says they’re searching for extra volunteer navigators, however it gained’t be the identical as having skilled employees.
Nicholas Riggs: What you’re shedding is institutional data. Volunteer navigators are nice. However generally it takes a couple of years to actually get a deal with on some extra complicated instances.
Dan: I imply, Emily — you skilled first hand how huge a deal it was to hae, like, an actual knowledgeable stroll you thru this course of.
Emily: Elisabeth spent virtually an hour with me!
Dan: Lots of people gained’t have entry to that type of assist. It’s another crummy factor we’re making an attempt to assist folks plan for. You discovered a map that reveals which states fund their very own navigators. We’ll publish 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 biggest navigator, however except Congress extends the improved subsidies, that subsequent dialog along with her is gonna be quite a bit more durable.
Emily: I imply, except I get one other job with medical health insurance first.
Dan: So, about that: When you had 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, may 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 Okay: Yeah, that’s superb.
Dan: Then she,
Kurt Okay: one hundred percent.
Dan: She might be insured on our Illinois based mostly plan,
although she’s in New York.. Is that proper?
Kurt Okay: All day lengthy.
Dan: All day lengthy,
Kurt Okay: yep.,
Oh, yeah.
Dan: So I used to be like: Um, how a lot would it not COST?
He mentioned, based mostly in your age — insurance coverage will get costlier as you grow old — 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, similar to every part else we’ve been taking a look at. Every thing in 2026 is gonna be greater. However it looks like An Arm and a Leg will get a greater deal than you’d get with Obamacare. Nevertheless, there’s a however. You’d must be full-time.
Emily: Aha!
Dan: Yeah. I imply we’ve obtained you at 20 hours per 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 seems at it, in case you had been working a median of 30 hours per week, then you may qualify.
Kurt Okay: She might be assembly that definition of quote unquote full-time worker.
Dan: Which, you understand, isn’t in my price range for subsequent yr– and I’m nonetheless working to verify another components of our scrappy little price range get funded– however it’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 concept quite a bit! However there are only a lot of unknowns, proper?
Dan: Yeah, right here’s the place we’ve landed: You’ve obtained 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 season, specialists had been like, “That’s not gonna occur.”
However in the previous couple of weeks, SOME Republicans have been proposing it. We positively don’t know — and it’s nothing we are able to rely on.
It’s all, truthfully, somewhat scary.
Emily: Truthfully, greater than somewhat.
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 selecting insurance coverage.
Emily: That was really type of a giant 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 complete case examine– I HOPE we’ve simply helped a number of different folks get extra ready, to begin planning.
We’ll preserve you posted on how issues go for us. Some updates will present up in our First Help Equipment e-newsletter.
When you’re not getting First Help Equipment, go test it out.
Emily: Whereas we had 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 tasks that Arm and a Leg listeners are doing — and how one can pitch in.
We’ll be again with one other podcast episode in a couple of weeks. Until then, maintain 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 Periods.
Dan: Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations.
Large because of Lynne Johnson, who simply wrapped up her run as our operations supervisor. Lynne, your work has performed 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 due to the Institute for Nonprofit Information for serving as our fiscal sponsor.
Dan: They permit us to just accept tax-exempt donations. You may be taught extra about INN at INN.org.Dan: Lastly, thanks to everyone who helps this present financially. You may take part any time at Arm and a Leg present, dot com, slash: assist.
“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KFF Well being Information and Public Street Productions.
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