I have a hard time imagining that universal medicaid would ever become reality. A more realistic goal might be making the premium tax credit more accessible or lessening the restrictions to qualify. That way, more people could afford marketplace health insurance.

Our healthcare system isn’t just complicated, it’s expensive. According to a recent study from research firm KFF the average family pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.