It’s almost open enrollment season, the annual American routine of wondering why the hell we pay so much for health insurance that isn’t even that good. This year, it’s not just worse than ever — for many people, health insurance might become unaffordable, full stop.

“I’m used to my health-insurance costs going up,” said one friend — a woman in her 40s — “but this is insane.” She recently got a letter from her insurance company saying that her premiums would increase by $100 per month in 2026. She’s outraged, but she’s also stuck — it’s still the cheapest option she can find.

She might be one of the lucky ones. If you get your health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace — as 24 million Americans do — then your monthly premiums could potentially more than double in 20

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