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(Video: watch below — or keep reading for the full story!)
I saw this post on reddit recently. While I know the 2026 ACA premiums are going up, this is a real story from a family of four.
Nothing about their plan changed — not the deductible, not the benefits, not the network.
The only thing that changed? The cost.
Their monthly premium jumped from $562 to $1,378, and the employer didn’t increase their contribution.
That means the entire increase landed on the employee.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Every year, more families are getting priced out of traditional health insurance — even when they have employer coverage. And for the self-employed, small business owners, or those without subsidies, the situation can feel downright impossible.
So what can you do when health insurance keeps getting more expensive every year?
Consider an Alternative: Health Shares
A health share isn’t insurance — it’s a non-profit community of people who help each other pay medical bills.
Here’s how it works in simple terms:
✅ You’re a self-pay patient, which means you can ask for a cash discount at the doctor or hospital.
✅ You pay your chosen Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) for each medical need.
✅ You submit the bill and a sharing request.
✅ The community shares 100% of eligible expenses after your IUA.
In this family’s case (parents in their 30’s), they could have been paying:
? $637/month with a $1,000 IUA
? $504/month with a $2,500 IUA
? $433/month with a $5,000 IUA
That’s a huge difference — and for many families, it means breathing room in their budget again.
Why People Are Turning to Health Shares
People are tired of feeling trapped by rising premiums, high deductibles, and limited doctor networks.
Health shares offer flexibility, community support, and transparency — something most people never feel with traditional insurance.
Members get to:
- Choose their own doctors.
- Negotiate lower rates as cash patients.
- Support others’ medical needs while receiving help with their own.
It’s a refreshingly different approach to healthcare — one that’s focused on people, not profits.
Ready to Take Back Control of Your Healthcare Costs?
Stop putting it off — take the first step today.
? Download my free Health Share Guide to learn exactly how health shares work and whether they might be a good fit for your family.
Or, if you’re ready to compare your options side-by-side, check out my full breakdown of The Best Health Shares — I’ve done all the research for you.
It’s time to stop feeling stuck with rising premiums and start exploring better, more affordable alternatives.
Health shares are not insurance and do not offer insurance coverage. Membership in a health share does not guarantee the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses. Each organization operates under its own membership guidelines, which determine what expenses may be eligible for sharing. This publication is for informational purposes only and is not provided by an insurance company. For state-specific notices and full program details, please visit the respective health share’s official website.
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