The 29-year-old content creator in San Francisco paid $168 a month last year for a Blue Shield health plan through Covered California. This year — without enhanced federal subsidies that expired at the end of December — that same plan would have cost $299 a month, with higher copays. On top of the loss of the extra federal benefits, the average Covered California premium this year rose by 10.3% because of fast-rising medical costs. Last year, she paid about $285 a month for a Covered California plan. The rise was due to her loss of federal subsidies, as well as a 23% increase in the premium charged by Blue Shield.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 06, 2026 12:30 UTC