Millions of Americans may soon face sharply rising health insurance costs as pandemic-era subsidies are set to expire. Walter Lane, UNO Economics professor, warns that the end of those subsidies could deliver a major financial blow.
“If these subsidies don’t hold,” Lane says, “millions of Americans will see the cost of insurance skyrocket.”
According to Lane, many people may be forced into difficult choices.
“Some will have to turn to whatever insurance their employers offer,” he explains. “And others may end up going without coverage altogether.”
That shift could place additional pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
“Emergency rooms are already feeling the squeeze from Medicaid cuts,” Lane notes. “An influx of uninsured patients would only strain the system further.”
Lane says the effects for Americans with private insurance will likely be less severe but still noticeable.
“There aren’t major implications for people with private plans,” he says. “But some of the costs that get passed onto insurers could eventually show up in premium increases.”
As the landscape of post-pandemic healthcare continues to shift, Lane says the next several months will be critical in determining access and affordability for millions.
“We’re at a crossroads,” he says. “If support systems fall away, the impact will be felt across the entire healthcare system.”