🥳“New Year’s Surprise” Edition

Millions of Americans are about to ring in the new year with a festive surprise from Congress: much higher health insurance bills. Thanks to the expiration of extra covid-era Affordable Care Act subsidies on Jan. 1, premiums on the marketplaces are set to jump anywhere from mildly annoying to rent-level catastrophic, depending on your income, age, and tolerance for despair. Imagine opening your 2026 statement and realizing that the cost of coverage has grown faster than your holiday waistline, and your wallet just got a terminal diagnosis.