The average cost of an employer-provided health insurance plan for a family of four in the United States is $28,303. This amount does not include out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles, copayments, or medications, which can add thousands more dollars.
Insurance premiums are projected to increase by an average of 8–15% next year. Meredith Rosenthal, a Harvard health economist, told CGTN that even people with an annual income of $100,000 feel financial pressure.
This year, five million people dropped health insurance after U.S. lawmakers allowed subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to expire. Experts warn that rising costs and new compliance requirements could force another four million people to forgo coverage in 2027.
Older adults are also facing difficulties: their deductibles are increasing, and more people are seeking assistance to pay for medical treatment, doctor visits, and medications.
The non-profit HealthWell Foundation is working to narrow the gap between healthcare needs and costs. Tony Waterman from CGTN spoke with two employees who handle these requests for assistance.