Do you care, Obamacare premiums double

 Reuters reported Americans shopping for 2026 Obamacare health insurance plans are facing a more than doubling of monthly premiums on average and are likely to postpone signing up in hopes of a last-minute reprieve or walk away, health experts say.

COVID-19 pandemic-era subsidies, due to expire at year-end, are at the center of the month-long U.S. government shutdown, with the potential to affect election outcomes and increase the rate of U.S. uninsured.  

The subsidies helped double Obamacare enrollment to 24 million since they were put in place in 2021.

Enrollment opens on Saturday for the plans created by President Barack Obama’s signature 2010 Affordable Care Act. Enrollees on average will see premiums rise about 114%, with the impact varying among the 22 million people who receive subsidies, according to research firm KFF.

Austin Jeha, a 24-year-old medical billing professional from San Ramon, California, relies on insurance to help pay for specialty care for his ulcerative colitis. Jeha’s new monthly premium is set to rise to $436 from $215.

Jeha regularly receives treatment from a specialist, handing over an $85 co-pay. “You’re at a higher risk of colon cancer,” he said, so doctors “want to check in to see if you’re in remission or not.”