by Hope
As the kids began to file their taxes, I noticed that my daughter had NOT been removed from my health insurance policy when it renewed in January. So last week I made the call to clear that up.
As I explained to them that I had updated my application in October to have her removed as she then had coverage with her full time job. They acknowledged that I had done that…saw the timestamp of the change in October, 2025.
Our new health insurance cards didn’t arrive til sometime in February and I hadn’t really paid attention. It was only when I pulled the tax docs that I noticed she had not been removed.
Of course, even though I did everything right, they couldn’t reverse the coverage 3 months. But were able to reverse it to the end of February. Okay, fine, we will deal.
Then I get told that our monthly premium, after removing my daughter, who never once used the policy will go from $132 per month to $697 per month. What?!?
Even the agent on the phone was befuddled. No clue as to why, no explantation. I got an email confirming that new premium a few days later.
Today, I logged on and cancelled my auto pay. And cancelled the renewal, our health insurance.
We will no longer have coverage as of 3/31/2026.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
Increases in insurance premiums this year shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. ACA subsidies were eliminated.
ACA subsidies were not eliminated. The extended eligibility from the COVID pandemic was not renewed. That means Hope would only be subsidized as a single if she made less than 65,000/year. Having Princess on it would mean she was subsidized up to 85,000/year.
Who is we? If your daughter is now removed, who remains on the policy other than yourself? Confusing. What will you do in place of insurance? Did you compare plans? How I’ll this impact the budget we never see?
I am searching for a new policy. Gymnast is on my policy as a college student under 21.
Big mistake Hope. You get sick and you will pay a ton. I paid $700.00 a month till I went on Medicare.. Who is the we who now doesn’t have health insurance?
Gymnast and I as he is on my policy as a college student who is under 21.
Your premium increased because The One Big Beautiful Bill for the budget passed in 2025 by Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress drastically cut subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance. Follow the news, Hope.
I am befuddled that you did not realize the Trump administrations actions were going to result in large increases in health insurance! The news was full of information about this in the late summer and fall – Democrats tried to stop it but were outvoted.
I am befuddled that they could change my premium 3 months into the year. When I updated everything in the fall, I was given a monthly premium, to change things mid-year is the befuddling part.
A) Your premium will have changed from 2025 to 2026. There’s no malice or deception here. Everyone saw an increase.
B) The increase in premiums for 2026 are also even higher than historical increases, because the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits were allowed to expire. That’s squarely a decision by Republicans in Congress, and the President. Insurance companies modeled out 2026 premiums “with credits” [cheaper, because more people were projected to be enrolled] and “without credits” [more expensive, because fewer people were projected to be enrolled], and the “without credits” prices went into effect.
C) When you dropped a 3rd person from your policy, your premium probably went down a bit, which helped a bit. It’s a small reduction in cost because you dropped a relatively young person. But at the same time, and worse for you, you lost access to some or all government Tax Credits because your household size decreased and you were over the allowed income limits for 2 people (maybe it was under the limit with 3, or the Biden rules helped you qualify in a different way). You probably lost $550+ per month in govt subsidies from that change. Commenters here are warning you that when you do your taxes, you may discover that you will lose credits for the entire period Princess was not a dependent, and that would hit hard. You’d see this on your 2025 taxes.
It sucks to lose the tax credits, it sucks that it’s happening suddenly and might have been an error by the Georgia Healthcare Marketplace. But it would have been better (cheaper) if Republicans had not refused to renew the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.
But I repeat that in my opinion it’s a major error to drop coverage. $700/mo is not negligible money, but it’s not extraordinarily expensive for what you’re getting. Even more so if it’s for 2 people. A single major uninsured healthcare expense could wipe you out financially. Healthcare in America is outrageously expensive and insurance is a must.
What are you talking about? The insurance company was required to change your premium to comply with federal law because your household changed.
I’m no fan of the health insurance industry in this country, but the fact your premium had to change wasn’t something that was ‘done’ to you. You weren’t wronged by that.
The mistake they did make in not removing her was 100% a failure on their part. File a complaint with the appropriate office in your state.
But it was also a mistake on your part that you didn’t prioritize confirming she’d been removed. The way the industry is, I’m surprised they didn’t backdate it and charge you the increased premium for the entire period.
Gymnast needs to get his own plan even if it is catastrophic only, through school, work enough hours at a Trader Joe’s or something for his own policy, even if you won’t. One significant accident, illness or injury, and he could have a bill that would put him into an enormous hole at such a young age.
And lastly, it’s Not Good that you have to rely on your kids, in any manner, in order to have health insurance that you can afford. Even if it’s ’just’ having them count toward a family policy so that you can get a bigger subsidy.
Relying on my kids? Definitely not.
Gymnast does not work at a place that offers health coverage, nor does the school he is attending. We have checked both.
yes, relying on your kids as in you needed 2 of them to get your household size in range for sufficient health insurance subsidies with your income. You seem to be not understanding how this works, at all
As for Gymnast, then he does what millions of adults do every year – find a new/another job that does, or go on the very same exchange that you’ve used, and get his own policy. And I really hope for his sake you aren’t discouraging him by claiming there’s just simply no way for him to have health insurance.
For relying on your kids to be able to afford life, em succinctly rephrased exactly what I meant But you knew already. You misunderstanding was feigned, like your questioning that readers ‘presume’ to know who you voted for until one commenter points out you put it on your social media..
Who is “We?”
I hope you share this information with your children, as you stated they wanted to move to Texas. Worse & more expensive health care (especially for women).
Removing a dependent means your household size is smaller, and you likely have lost eligibility for government premium subsidies (they’re based on income and size of household). Seems you and your family were receiving some $550+ per month in subsidies which you’re no longer eligible for.
Add to that that the Republicans in Congress refused to extend the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, resulting in massive healthcare cost increases and amplified the loss of government premium subsidies. Elections have consequences and this was, sadly, totally foreseeable based on who is in office and who controls Congress.
Regardless, I think it’s a massive error to drop health insurance. If the premium is too costly for your budget, consider a lower class (silver or even bronze) plan and get into an HMO if you have to. Otherwise a single accident or medium-to-large health concern could bankrupt you. But for what it’s worth, for someone of your age, or honestly any individual who isn’t in their 20s, $700/mo is pretty reasonable for healthcare. Not outrageous by any measure.
You need to get a full time job with benefits, Hope. Surely this is the America you voted for, and you need to do everything you can to keep yourself above water, which does NOT include forgoing insurance.
What are all the comments on voting about? Does the BAD community presume to know my vote?
Perhaps you have not been following the news at all, but everyone’s health insurance costs went up this year. The ACA plans in particular went up drastically because Republicans in Congress refused to renew healthcare subsidies. While $697 is a lot of money, it’s not an outside-of-the-ordinary premium (especially if you’re still covering Gymnast) in 2026.
That stinks and surely there is a reasonable explanation or error somewhere.
But also, it’s not a 600% increase. It’s a 428% increase. It’s not even six times as much.
I am sorry to even type this. But it remains true.
You voted for this.
Who voted for this?
You, and you have mentioned it on your social media in the past. We know who you voted for and this is exactly what was always going to happen.
@Eliabeth,
Is that so….?
I mean you have made it clear that you will do whatever you want, because even with lots of good advice, and signs from God, you’re choosing to go without insurance, and finding a full time job now will be extremely difficult. I hope the kids are better set up for life in a blue state.
Oh I meant a red state, smh!
Man what a mess this all is. Our health care system is terrible and has only gotten worse with recent policies and politics.
IIRC Princess got her own health insurance sometime last year. I would imagine that would make you ineligible for subsidies related to her being on your plan starting from when she was eligible. I would be worried that they are going to go after you for the difference in rates when you go to file your taxes. Are you sure that isn’t the case?
Are you then helping Gymnast find affordable insurance for himself? Or is he just chancing it like you?
Your savings will be wiped out with just one emergency room visit. I understand that $700 is a lot but if you are making decent money it probably is in your best interest to have a health insurance plan.
You are correct about Princess. When her coverage kicked in, I notified them to remove her. They failed to do that.
Which is why I called to clear that up prior to next tax season. And have documented all this.
Yes, Gymnast and I are looking for coverage. But we have cancelled our existing policy as of tomorrow, in fact.
Not having insurance coverage, especially when you have no housing expenses, is extremely foolish. You have diabetes, hearing loss, and are in your 50’s. You can thank Trump for this outcome but now you need to deal with it. Since you live at your parents house, you are exposing them to liability with no insurance. If you fall there or get injured, don’t you think the hospital will come for someone to hold liable?
Echoing this comment. I’m gonna be harsh. You’ve got significant health issues, you’re in your 50s, and you CAN afford insurance. Why gamble? Also, the way you vote has consequences and you made the decision to vote against your own interests. Our insurance rates are killing us right now, so thanks for being so ignorant.
Vote against my own interests? I’m not following these voting comments.
According to health insurance, hearing loss ie the need for hearing aids is cosmetic so no medical coverage helps there.
As for my diabetes, you are right.
The only ones to blame for the increase in ACA premiums is democrats. They passed the ACA without reading the bill … if they would have read the bill they would have realized the subsidies expire.
It’s a terrible piece of legislation resulting in our healthcare becoming worse and more expensive.
Everytime the government gets involved in something- it gets worse, less efficient, more expensive, and full of fraud.
Rant over.
Uh what? The Republican bill in the House advanced health care without subsidies in 2025 216-211. The Democrats repeatedly wished to extend the subsidies but were told by Republicans that it supported a “ failed” health care policy( the ACA). The Republicans have the majority so the subsidies expired in 2025. Everyone is still waiting for the Republican health care plan which may or may not include items like HSAs.
We can certainly argue that the ACA is less than perfect and that it did not control costs correctly but pinning this on “ only the Democrats” is absurd.
It’s not absurd. It’s a crappy piece of legislation and the democrats just want to throw more money at it.
I really liked my doctor and my healthcare pre-ACA. It was a lie from the beginning.
And the alternative is? Oh right, it’s nothing. It’s to allow premiums to become the cost of a mortgage.
The Democrats may indeed suck but the Republicans suck MORE because they have offered zero alternatives.
We’re not going to solve this very complicated issue in this comment section:)
My point was that throwing more money at a failing system doesn’t fix it. Let’s be smart and look at options from both the republicans and democrats.
In the meantime, Hope needs to figure out some coverage for herself.
This is really more for Den but no ‘Reply’ button is visible on the last comment:
Lol, wut? My guy. Scroll up a bit, and you’ll find the one who posted the first polarizing comment in this specific branch of the comments was…you.
I won’t take prolong the conversation by pointing out the unkept promises for health care dating back to the campaign trail in *checks notes* 2015.
Instead I’ll quote the Book of FAFO:
“Thou shalt not disheth it out if thou canst not taketh it”
Hope, 600-700 is typical for insurance. I am apart of a large union and my cost *would* be just about 600 per month BUT my employer contributes 500 towards it. While I hate that health insurance is tied into employment it is another benefit of working a more traditional job.
I know you are caring for your family, but the whole oxygen mask analogy works here too. If you aren’t caring for yourself first you cannot help others.
Another point towards finding a job with employer-sponsored health insurance is that you don’t seem willing or able to understand how ACA subsidies work.