Ken Warner and his wife Parveen Vohra, both in their mid-50s, live in Manchester, Connecticut, with a couple of dogs and three cats. They are self-employed; Vohra works as a mental health counselor while Warner writes science fiction and fantasy novels. In 2025, the couple faced significant medical expenses: a new roof and boiler were needed, and both underwent surgeries—Warner had a hip replacement and Vohra had eye surgery. They obtain their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, but despite careful planning, they encountered out-of-pocket costs.
To manage the financial burden, they drained one of their two small retirement funds accumulated from previous jobs prior to self-employment.
This year, health insurance premiums have soared. After the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies, the couple’s monthly premium jumped from $630 for both, with an additional $100 for dental, to over $2,500. Warner articulates the struggle, questioning, “We can’t afford that—who can?”
They had anticipated Congress would act to reinstate subsidies; early in January, it seemed a bipartisan deal was possible, but ultimately those efforts fizzled out, and lawmakers are no longer pursuing solutions.
For Warner and Vohra, the new reality comes with impending financial strain. They’ve had to make difficult choices, scaling back on groceries and other household expenses. A recent survey indicates many ACA marketplace enrollees are faced with similar tough decisions; significant numbers report cutting back on spending or even taking on extra jobs. Alarmingly, almost one in five feel uncertain about affording their annual premiums, which could lead to rising uninsured rates.
In a bid to cut costs, the couple adjusted their monthly budget; they switched cell phone plans, canceled streaming services, and reduced household help. While Vohra takes her elderly mother to doctor appointments alongside her counseling work, Warner is looking into crowdfunding a special edition of his novel and has applied for jobs with health benefits, though without success so far.
They’re still grappling with the possibility of additional surgeries in the future, and the pressing question looms about how to handle escalating costs, particularly with impending expenses related to Vohra’s mother’s care, which is already $10,000 a month. The couple worries about their ability to afford this care as they age, given the current financial landscape.
As Warner points out, “We’re likely to see another 10%, 20% increase next year. The situation is only going to worsen.” Both feel trapped within a failing system, expressing frustration about the continual regression and a sense of being financially robbed.
