Higher health insurance premiums and expiring ACA subsidies are squeezing the Rio Grande Valley’s middle class
Rising health insurance premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs are prompting many Rio Grande Valley residents to reconsider or drop coverage as federal Affordable Care Act subsidies expire. Courtesy of | Unsplash | Online Marketing

Edinburg insurance broker Emanuel Pruneda watched a family with four children and two adults decline health insurance coverage after the monthly premium cost jumped 100% in just one year. 

It would have cost $1,200 per month for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, which was outside their budget. 

“They had to cancel their insurance,” Pruenda said, and instead planned to simply eat healthy, exercise, and “try not to get sick.”

About one-quarter of his clients decided not to renew Affordable Care Act plans for next year. 

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