More than a decade after its passage, even supporters of Obamacare are admitting what millions of families already know from experience: the law has failed to deliver on its core promise of lower costs and better access to care. Premiums continue to rise, deductibles are higher than ever, choices have narrowed, and many plans now come with restrictive networks and unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
The solution is not simply more subsidies layered on top of a broken system. While these subsidies may temporarily soften premium increases, they do nothing to address the deeper problems driving healthcare costs higher year after year. Families are still left navigating a system that is confusing, expensive, and opaque, often without knowing what care will cost until after the bill arrives.
To address the ongoing problems, real reform is needed. That reform begins with transparency.
As policymakers revisit the future of the healthcare system, there is growing recognition that empowering patients to manage their own healthcare dollars is essential. Expanding access to health accounts is a step in the right direction, but those tools only work if people can use them meaningfully. Patients need clear, upfront pricing and the freedom to apply their own funds toward care that meets their needs, without unnecessary restrictions or bureaucratic barriers.
Allowing health sharing members to access tools like Health Savings Accounts would further strengthen this approach. HSAs give families a way to save for healthcare, plan ahead, and pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free. When combined with transparent pricing and patient-driven care, they offer a practical alternative to a system built on complexity and dependence.
Price transparency efforts have already shown promise and should continue. Requirements for good-faith cost estimates, clearer billing, and access to claims data help restore accountability in a system where prices have long been hidden. When patients know costs in advance, they can make informed decisions and avoid surprise bills that strain household budgets.
At Solidarity HealthShare, transparency is not a policy slogan. It is central to how we serve our Members. We believe people deserve to understand what their care will cost and to have confidence that their healthcare dollars are used responsibly. Our Members participate in a healthcare model built on clarity, shared responsibility, and trust, not shifting rules and surprise expenses.
Our healthcare ministry also offers something the Affordable Care Act does not. Our community is rooted in conscience and faith. Members never share in medical procedures that conflict with their deeply held beliefs. Instead, they support ethical, life-affirming care while managing healthcare costs in a way that respects their values.
Making healthcare affordable again will not come from expanding a system that has already failed so many families. It will come from transparency, accountability, and patient-centered solutions that return control to individuals. At Solidarity HealthShare, we are proud to be part of that solution.
For more information about how you can join the Solidarity community, please contact our Member Care team today at 737-SHARING.
