Pennsylvania's Health Insurance Crisis: A Growing Problem

In Pennsylvania, a tough situation is unfolding. Many people are losing their health insurance. The reason? Insurance costs are going up. A lot. Some folks are earning just enough to not get help from Medicaid. But they don't earn enough to afford the high insurance prices. This is leaving many without coverage. Take Nansi Armstrong, for example. She's 48 and works hard. She has multiple jobs, including one as an office manager. But her job doesn't offer health benefits. This year, her insurance cost $650 a month. Next year, it's set to double. She calls this "insane. " Because of this, she's choosing to go without insurance next year. She's worried about getting sick. But she feels she has no other choice. Armstrong is not alone. Since November, 55, 000 Pennsylvanians have dropped their health coverage. That's about 1, 000 people every day. The federal subsidies that helped pay for insurance have ended. This is putting a strain on many families. Some are trying to adjust their budgets. Others are just giving up on insurance altogether.This is causing problems for hospitals too. More people without insurance means more people going to emergency rooms. This is already a struggle for rural hospitals. They warn they can't handle the sudden increase in uninsured patients. Beverly Kennedy, who runs a free clinic, says the system is broken. She's already seeing people asking for help. But she doesn't have the resources to help them. Experts say this could lead to higher costs for everyone. When hospitals don't get paid for care, they raise prices. This could make insurance even more expensive. It's a cycle that's hard to break. The Affordable Care Act subsidies helped a lot. They cut the state's uninsured rate almost in half. But now, with the subsidies ending, that progress is reversing. Congress could still step in. But for now, many Pennsylvanians are left hoping for the best. They're trying to stay healthy. And they're waiting to see what happens next.