Healthcare Costs Outpace Housing as Major Burden on Families

Housing costs are often cited as an affordability crisis in America, but healthcare costs have surpassed even those as a major burden on families. According to Gallup, American adults' ability to afford healthcare is at a five-year low. The average monthly health insurance premium for a family has now exceeded the average mortgage payment.

The root cause of this issue lies in the consolidation and vertical integration among health insurance companies, driven by Obamacare-era 'reforms'. This has led to giant health conglomerates that are monopolizing patients' checkbooks, such as UnitedHealth Group. The company acquired or created over 250 subsidiaries in 2024, including pharmacies and physician management companies.

As a result, these large insurers continue to raise premiums while growing revenue and profits. For example, Centene reported $1 billion in profit during the second quarter of 2026, with premium and service revenues rising 4%. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente ended 2025 with operating revenues up 10.3% and more than $9.3 billion in total gains while raising premiums by 8%.

The healthcare system has become a gold mine for big insurance companies, but a drag on the wages of American families. To address this issue, the Trump administration can crack down on wasteful healthcare spending and investigate insurer gamesmanship, hidden middlemen, and corporate schemes that put profits ahead of patients.