A board-certified medical doctor based in North Carolina has recently gone viral after sharing his decision to cancel his family’s traditional health insurance coverage in 2026, citing skyrocketing costs that he could no longer justify. Despite running his own private practice and having a deep understanding of the healthcare system from the inside, he admitted that he still struggled to find a plan that offered what he considered meaningful protection. Sadly, many TikTokers believe this is the norm now, and they feel bad for how the costs in health insurance have affected this physician, as well as many other Americans.
According to the physician, the issue became apparent when he reviewed his family’s healthcare expenses from the previous year. He explained that the most affordable plan offered through the health insurance exchange for his household of five costs about $1,750 per month, amounting to more than $20,000 annually. Despite the steep cost, the policy provided little beyond catastrophic coverage, offering substantial benefits only in the event of a major medical emergency.
He pointed out that the plan had a deductible of approximately $4,000 per person and $8,000 for the family, along with co-pays and a high out-of-pocket maximum that had to be met before any meaningful coverage began. As a result, he felt his family was spending tens of thousands of dollars each year, yet still paying out of pocket for most routine services, including preventive care and primary care visits.
The physician said the situation became increasingly difficult to justify when he learned that the monthly premium for the same level of coverage was projected to rise by another $200 in 2026. That increase would push the cost to nearly $2,000 per month—approximately $24,000 annually—before factoring in deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Ultimately, he and his family opted for a short-term health insurance plan lasting four months, which offered only catastrophic protection in the event of hospitalization or a major medical crisis. Under that plan, their maximum out-of-pocket exposure would be about $5,000 in a serious emergency—an amount he considered far more manageable than the continuous premiums and high deductibles of their previous policy.
For the rest of the year, the family plans to participate in a cost-sharing program that helps cover expenses exceeding a selected threshold, allowing them to determine their own level of financial risk. Even after accounting for routine healthcare costs such as dental visits and pediatric care, he estimated that this new approach would save his family roughly $13,000 over the course of the year.
Other TikTokers Shocked at Rising Health Insurance Costs
As you can imagine, many people agreed with the physician, claiming that the country’s healthcare system is worse than it was and keeps getting worse with each passing day, at least according to them.
“It’s a sad day when a Doctor can’t afford health insurance.”
“American people can’t afford Healthcare.“
On the other hand, many think this is a “necessary change” and that people should start planning ahead and look for ways to avoid health insurance, as being without one can cost more in the long run.
