Key Takeaways:

• Republican budget cuts to Medicaid and expiring ACA subsidies will double premiums for millions.
• Sanders warns 15 million people could lose Medicaid and ACA health coverage.
• Real-life stories show families fear losing life-saving treatments and basic needs.
• Lawmakers must join forces to protect health care and prevent needless deaths.

As the federal shutdown drags on, a new report from Sen. Bernie Sanders warns of a looming health crisis. The report details how recent Republican changes will hike healthcare costs and slash coverage. Earlier this year, Congress passed cuts to Medicaid in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. At the same time, enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans are set to expire. Sanders writes that health insurers will soon send letters telling people their premiums will double on average.

Unless Congress reverses course, the report predicts 15 million Americans will lose Medicaid or ACA coverage. Even worse, it could cause 50,000 preventable deaths each year. These numbers matter, but they do not tell the whole story. Sanders collected hundreds of personal accounts that show how rising healthcare costs hit real families. Many fear for their lives and their children’s futures.

Personal Stories Show Impact of Healthcare Costs

Laura from Wisconsin lives in daily fear. She has a rare kidney disease and needs immunotherapy every nine months. Her life depends on treatment that already costs thousands. “I’m terrified I’ll die if I can’t afford care,” she said.

Bobbi in Texas is fighting lung cancer. She worries that expiring ACA credits will force her to drop coverage. Hayat, a widow in Florida, works 48 hours a week and cares for three kids. Her migraines cost $1,040 per month in medicine. She fears painful attacks if she loses insurance.

Khorie, also in Texas, struggles to afford ulcerative colitis meds. Without insurance, her drugs cost $8,000 per refill. Even with coverage, she pays $1,500. She relies on company copay help. Her kids need braces, glasses, ADHD medication, and asthma care. She dreads the day her family might skip doses to pay for rent.

Higher Healthcare Costs Threaten Food and Housing

The ripple effects extend beyond medicine. Larissa, an Illinois mother, says a premium spike would cut 60 percent of her food budget. She worries her kids won’t eat consistently. Aisha from California faces a horrible choice: pay her mortgage or pay health premiums. “I need a roof over our heads,” she explained. “But then my child and I will lack healthcare and might not survive.”

When families must choose, they lose in every case. They may go without food, skip rent, or skip medicine. In each scenario, children suffer most. Furthermore, community health worsens when people delay care. Illness spreads, hospitals fill up, and local economies suffer.

Lawmakers Must Act to Control Healthcare Costs

With the shutdown now in its second week, Sanders calls on Congress to end the stalemate. He refuses to back any budget that doubles premiums or cuts 15 million people off coverage. He says Democrats, Republicans, and independents must come together. They need to protect healthcare for all Americans, not just insurance and drug company profits.

Sanders pledges to reverse the Republican healthcare cuts. He also plans to push for a guarantee of health coverage for every person, matching other major countries. He urges lawmakers to listen to stories like Laura’s and Bobbi’s. He warns that without action, we face needless suffering and death.

In short, rising healthcare costs threaten lives today and tomorrow. Families are already on the brink. Lawmakers in Washington must act now to stop premium hikes, restore Medicaid funding, and renew ACA subsidies. Otherwise, millions will lose coverage, face life-or-death decisions, and bear the hidden toll of unaffordable care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are healthcare costs and why do they matter?

Healthcare costs include insurance premiums, deductibles, and medicine expenses. They matter because they can decide if people get life-saving treatments or go without care.

How many people could lose health coverage under the current plan?

The report warns that 15 million Americans could lose Medicaid or ACA coverage if budget cuts and subsidy expirations stand.

Why will insurance premiums double for many families?

Republican budget changes cut Medicaid funding and let ACA subsidies expire. Insurers must cover costs by raising premiums, which may double for millions.

What can Congress do to protect families?

Lawmakers can reverse Medicaid cuts, renew ACA enhanced subsidies, and work on a plan to guarantee health coverage for every American.