Hey, first!  If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work:  This month, every donation gets matched two-for-one.  

We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here — and get your money matched two-for-one.

It’s probably fair to say: this is the worst year ever for picking health insurance. Premiums are skyrocketing – whether you get insurance through work or from the Obamacare marketplace. 

And with enhanced subsidies almost definitely expiring, millions of people with Obamacare plans are grappling with drastic changes to their household budgets. 

We’re our own case study: You’ll hear us sorting through our own options. None of them are pretty, but because we know how to read the fine print, we figured out: Some are way, way less awful than others. 

And to help you do the same: We’ve boiled down our fine-print-reading expertise in this starter pack on how to pick insurance. 

Also in this episode: we talk with a listener who wonders: is paying for health insurance even worth it at this point? (Her ultimate answer: Yes, but argh.)

Read Julie Appleby’s reporting for KFF Health News about what could happen if Congress changes course and extends the subsidies. 

Here’s a transcript of this episode. 

Send your stories and questions! Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.

And, again… we’d love for you to support this show. 

Hey, first!&nbsp; If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support our work</a>:&nbsp; This month, every donation gets matched two-for-one.&nbsp;&nbsp;
We have SO much work ahead in 2026. <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">Donate here</a> &mdash; and get your money matched two-for-one.
<hr>
It&rsquo;s probably fair to say: this is the worst year ever for picking health insurance. Premiums are skyrocketing &ndash; whether you get insurance through work or from the Obamacare marketplace.&nbsp;
And with enhanced subsidies almost definitely expiring, millions of people with Obamacare plans are grappling with drastic changes to their household budgets.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re our own case study: You&rsquo;ll hear us sorting through our own options. None of them are pretty, but because we know how to read the fine print, we figured out: Some are way, way less awful than others.&nbsp;
And to help you do the same: We&rsquo;ve boiled down our fine-print-reading expertise in <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/starter-pack/how-do-i-shop-for-health-insurance/">this starter pack on how to pick insurance</a>.&nbsp;
Also in this episode: we talk with a listener who wonders: is paying for health insurance even worth it at this point? (Her ultimate answer: Yes, but argh.)
Read <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/obamacare-states-prepare-for-last-minute-aca-deal/">Julie Appleby&rsquo;s reporting for KFF Health News</a> about what could happen if Congress changes course and extends the subsidies.&nbsp;
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/how-to-pick-health-insurance-2026/#transcript">Here&rsquo;s a transcript of this episode</a>.&nbsp;
Send <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact-us/">your stories and questions</a>! Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.
And, again&hellip; we&rsquo;d love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support this show</a>.&nbsp;

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

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