A single mom's ACA premium jumped from $3 to $164. Now she's skipping her medications.
Business Insider
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Natalie Richards, a single mother and dishwasher in Palestine, Texas, is facing a life-altering challenge as her Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premiums skyrocketed from $3 to $164 per month, leaving her unable to afford essential medications and at risk of losing her coverage. This drastic increase reflects the broader impact of the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies in 2026, which have left millions of low- and middle-income Americans priced out of the healthcare market.
For Richards, who works part-time and earns just above minimum wage, health insurance has been a critical lifeline. Her job at Chili’s does not offer employer-based coverage, and her past roles in nonprofits and hospitality similarly lacked benefits. The ACA marketplace plan she relied on since 2021 provided affordable access to medications and mental health support for ADHD, which she describes as “debilitating” without proper care. However, with the loss of subsidies, her monthly premiums have become unmanageable, forcing her to skip prescriptions and consider going without coverage altogether.
Richards’ situation is not unique. Millions nationwide are grappling with similar challenges as enrollment in ACA plans dropped by 1.4 million in January alone. Enhanced subsidies, designed to help lower- and middle-income households afford healthcare, expired at the end of 2025 after months of political uncertainty and failed efforts to renew them. This has left freelancers, gig workers, and part-time employees like Richards without a reliable safety net.
For Richards, losing her health insurance is more than just a financial burden—it threatens her ability to maintain stability in her life. Beyond affording healthcare, she struggles with housing, utilities, and transportation costs. Without a car, public transportation
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/14/2026