Amber Kostka, owner of the Stockpot restaurant in Hampton Roads, Virginia, says she has tried to help her employees by offering good health insurance and wages. However, with rising costs, her employees are increasingly stating that they cannot afford health insurance.
Decrease in Insured Individuals
Kostka explains that although she shares the premium costs with her employees, these costs, which are around $400 a month, have caused about 35% of her eligible employees to not enroll in corporate insurance, down from 50% before COVID-19. She is trying to warn her employees about the risks of being uninsured, but she knows their financial situation is very difficult.
Increase in Uninsured and Costs
According to new research, the share of working-age adults without health insurance in America is expected to rise to 11.2% by 2026. This increase is due to the rising cost of living, including gasoline and housing, which forces people to forgo paying for insurance. Kostka says, "The whole system seems like a complete gamble with people's lives."
Some individuals look at insurance prices in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and decide they cannot afford the insurance costs. Premiums in these markets have increased by an average of 58% in 2026, after Congress decided not to extend expired subsidies last year.
As the number of uninsured Americans rises, healthcare costs continue to increase, as hospitals are forced to pass on uncompensated care costs to others. According to a survey, employers expect total health benefit costs to increase by 8.2% in 2027.
Kostka says that the choice of insurers in her area has decreased, and she has moved towards self-insuring. But she knows that she could be dropped from this plan with a major diagnosis. She says, "Right now, it's a gamble."
