Ellen Allen, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on January 22, 2026 that her health insurance premium increased 323% after Affordable Care Act subsidies expired. (Congress.gov screenshot)
“When I saw my new bonus, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I was expecting an increase, but it was a gut punch when I saw that my bonus had increased by 323%.” – Ellen Allen, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care
Ms. Allen explained the above while he testified in January to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee regarding their Obamacare premium enhance. Both of West Virginia’s U.S. senators voted to cut the Biden-era Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidies, as described below.
Additionally, a novel study has been released showing that West Virginia residents will generally have a very challenging time affording their health insurance in 2026. even more so than in almost any other state. When analyzing the total cost of health insurance coverage for a family of four in West Virginia, the study found that it accounted for 12.5% of the family’s total income (2024 figures). Only five states had more unaffordable health insurance – Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and North Carolina.
And this year it’s going to get even worse, with even more significant increases on the way, similar to recent years. A reliable source said the group health insurance market will grow 8.5%, much higher than the inflation rate (which is less than 3%) or employer-generated wage increases, which are expected to be around 3%, according to an October Mercer compensation report. The individual health insurance market is almost as bad at a projected 7.5%. enhance.
In 2017, then-Democratic Governor Jim Justice supported Medicaid and suggested to Senator Shelley Moore Capito (a Republican) that the people of West Virginia would not comply with Medicaid cuts. According to justice“With so many of our people relying on Medicaid, any cuts to Medicaid would devastate families in West Virginia…The consequences would be beyond catastrophic.”
Justice then switched parties and was eventually elected senator. Even as a Republican, Justice said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid. However, he then changed his stripes, Coordination with Capito to significantly reduce the funding for this.
He and Capito also voted for a state budget bill that included significant cuts to ACA premium support in July 2025. This bill is expected to impact 60,000 West Virginia residents Lose cover via reduced participation in the ACA Marketplace Exchange.
President Donald Trump can talk all he wants about his administration’s promotion of “affordability.” And some MAGA supporters will ask working people to simply buy into his rhetoric, regardless of the facts. And yes, Trump’s millionaire friends and relatives, who have invested heavily in the stock market, are doing quite well financially. But the average person is not.
People don’t care whether Biden or Trump (or both) are responsible. Or how the pandemic was a global phenomenon that led to unusual price increases. All they know is that the average price of goods and services in 2026 is 22% higher than in 2020 — and is still rising due to tariffs and other factors.
More specifically, West Virginia consumers are feeling pressure on their wallets as they pay 8% more for health insurance this year. If the GOP expects to win elections, even in deep red states like West Virginia, it had better wake up — and quickly. It’s up to Republican senators like Justice and Capito to get their party to see the lightweight of day before that happens.
