Healthcare is a priority for older adults, especially retirees. The retirees in Idaho, however, might have been stricken with an unhealthy amount of stress after finding out their $51/month health plan is set to cost more than $2,200/month. Such a huge financial blow has compelled them to seek out help from a Republican senator, but the irony of the matter is that the Republican Party’s stifling of Obamacare or federal subsidies is likely responsible for this health plan cost increase.
Bob and Leslie McMichael of Treasure Valley, Idaho, are two of the particularly outspoken retirees affected by this matter. Recently, the two learned their $51 monthly health insurance plan will skyrocket to $2,232 next year. The reason: the expiration of the federal subsidies that had kept their premiums affordable since 2021; open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, commonly known in the past as Obamacare, notably began this week in Idaho, highlighting this change in health plan costs.
“We’re facing a stratospheric increase in health care and probably don’t have any option to stay on health care as of January 2026,” said Bob, 63, transcript courtesy of NBC. The couple, who live on about $42,000 a year, have thus written to Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, pleading with him to support extending the subsidies his party has long fought to eliminate. “We’re just asking for help. We paid in all our lives, we just want to keep seeing a doctor,” pleads Bob.
Sen. Crapo has yet to reply to the McMichaels’ plea, and the couple represents a significant retiree population of Idaho. The fate of those subsidies has become a flashpoint in the ongoing government shutdown battle in Washington. Democrats have demanded their renewal as a condition for reopening the government, while Republicans have balked, citing concerns over federal spending.
People Online Have Reminded Idaho That They Voted 67 Percent in Favor of Trump
Without congressional action, the McMichaels’ story could become typical, according to NBC. State officials estimate that more than 100,000 Idahoans, or 87 percent of ACA enrollees, will lose enhanced subsidies at year’s end, and roughly 25,000 may drop their coverage entirely, leaving retiree healthcare in limbo. “For some people, it’s going to be a lot worse,” according to research analyst Gideon Lukens.
2024 electoral statistics, however, point to how Idaho contributed much to the GOP and Trump victory in the last presidential election, with 67 percent of Idahoans voting for Trump and only 30 percent for Harris. Hence, some people online were less sympathetic, “I’m sure the Republican health care plan will be far better and cheaper than the ACA. Trump said so! Have fun when your hospital systems collapse, red states!” jokes a Reddit user.
“But as compensation, they are getting their very own Qatari Air Force Base!!!” claims another comment, alluding to the Trump admin-approved Qatari Air Force Base in Idaho. Others were pointing out how the Trump or Republican voters in Idaho might just repeat the same vote in the next election anyway and continue their cycle of struggles, “Idaho Republican-voting retirees are… going to vote Republican next election.”
