Numbers tell us what’s happening. Stories tell us what it means. These are the experiences of Americans who lived it, some reported by the nation’s leading health journalists, and everyday Americans brave enough to tell their own stories.
Kanab, Utah · Priced out
A self-employed photographer at high risk for breast cancer, she dropped her marketplace plan in 2026 and now weighs a $1,200 mammogram against keeping her business afloat.
Illinois · Priced out
A single mom of two whose monthly premium nearly doubled for 2026. She chose to go uninsured.
Rhode Island · Priced out
Their gold plan cost nearly $2,000 a month and would have hit almost $3,000 in 2026. They had already pulled $12,000 from retirement to pay 2025 premiums.
“The people who write healthcare policy should hear from the people who live with it.”
Kennebunk, Maine · Priced out
One of thousands of Mainers who went without insurance after premiums spiked.
Greensburg, Pennsylvania · Priced out
Facing a choice between health insurance and the house payment, she says her husband may not be able to afford to retire.
Henrico, Virginia · Denied care
Her insurer repeatedly refused specialist-recommended infusions for her pain; her parents drew on retirement savings to pay.
Georgia · Red tape
He appeared in a promotional video for Georgia’s Medicaid work-requirement program, then lost coverage in the paperwork. He’d once called it a blessing.
Bridgeport, West Virginia · Denied care
His insurer called a doctor-recommended cancer treatment “not medically necessary” and denied four appeals; the insurer and some doctors disputed the treatment’s evidence. After Eric’s death, Rebecca has spoken out, and West Virginia passed a prior authorization law in March 2026.
These summaries are based on published reporting and link to the original stories, with credit to each outlet. They are not testimonials given to Patients Before Profit.
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