{
  "id": 3246427,
  "title": "Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/florida-hard-hit-by-obamacare-drop-off-feels-the-squeeze-of-rising-3246427",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T10:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-obamacare-subsidies-florida-health-b224d1bdb33690d8d2ddeb094437bdc8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In St. Cloud, Florida, a devastating kitchen accident highlights the struggles faced by many Americans due to rising healthcare costs following the loss of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance. Chef Elijah Button, 21, lost his finger in a knife accident, but his inability to afford emergency care due to a $100 monthly premium increase forced him to make a difficult decision. With the federal subsidies that helped offset ACA plan costs expired in January, thousands of Americans, including Button, were left to choose between maintaining costly insurance or going without coverage entirely. This situation has become particularly acute in Florida, where a disproportionate number of residents, over 440,000, lost their ACA plans this year, more than any other state. As prices for basic necessities continue to rise and health insurers anticipate further premium increases, many Floridians are grappling with strained finances and the daunting prospect of medical bills. The lack of substantial policy changes to address these mounting healthcare costs leaves millions of Americans feeling the financial squeeze, with some avoiding medical care altogether due to fears of the cost.",
  "summary": "ST. CLOUD, Fla. (AP) — Florida chef Elijah Button was chopping onions in June when his knife slipped and sliced his middle finger to the bone. It was his worst kitchen accident to date. But having given up his Affordable Care Act health insurance plan in January…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/florida-hard-hit-by-obamacare-drop-off-feels-the-squeeze-of-rising",
        "published": "2026-08-25T10:43:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}