Healthcare has been making headlines in the news, and rightfully so. With the subsidies expiring for the Affordable Care Act, many are facing the reality of increased premiums. This could potentially force families to make tough choices surrounding managing their healthcare needs. For some, the decision might be to maintain their current coverage, choose a plan with fewer benefits, or face the daunting prospect of having no insurance at all. When you pull back the curtain, these decisions affect whether a parent feels they can afford to take their child to the doctor, whether a person will follow up on a worrying symptom, or whether a family feels one medical event away from financial ruin.
In the halls of Congress, sweeping changes and debates might shape what health care will look like in the coming years. There could be changes to affordability, access, coverage, and how medicine is delivered. Experts highlight risks like rising costs and gaps in care, but also see an opportunity for reform, prevention, and a more compassionate, community-oriented approach to health. To be honest, with the way Congress is divided, I am not sure how they come to any consensus on this issue.
As this transformation unfolds, the challenge and invitation are clear: to respond not just with policy or preference, but with mercy, dignity, and a commitment to the well-being of all. As our health-care system changes with new policies, tech, and ideas about wellness, how can we, as people of faith, reflect Christ’s compassion in how we view care for the sick, the vulnerable, and the overlooked?
The Risk and Fear of Rising Healthcare Costs
Healthcare costs remain one of the biggest financial risks and are one of the leading causes of financial stress in America. In a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), here is what they discovered:
44% of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford health care costs
28% of adults (or a family member) had problems paying for health care in the past 12 months
36% have skipped or postponed needed health care due to cost
41% of U.S. adults currently have some form of health care debt
62% worry about affording health care services
61% worry about unexpected medical bills
21% have not filled a prescription due to cost
15% have cut pills in half or skipped doses due to cost
I wish those numbers focused only on people who did not have health insurance, but they do not. What’s fascinating about the KFF study is that even some who have insurance face financial stress, so sometimes even having insurance is no guarantee.
Healthcare costs can increase quickly and have the potential to do damage to your finances. When my son was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. His initial hospital stay, which lasted over 2 months, ran up a tab of over half a million dollars, and this was twenty years ago. This did not account for some of the hidden costs that get overlooked, like gas for going back and forth to the hospital, eating out because you don’t have time to cook, and the physical and mental toll of caring for someone who is in the hospital. Thankfully, we had insurance, but seeing those high hospital bills made me realize that if we didn’t have insurance, it would have been catastrophic.
Ciji Green’s daughter was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy. This is a disease that causes the muscles to wither, leaving the patient frail, and it often leads to death. In 2019, a generic therapy was approved to treat this disease, but its staggering $2 million price tag created a huge barrier. Her insurance company refused to pay for this treatment. Despite the possibility of a life-saving treatment, the insurance company denied coverage, leaving Ciji with a feeling of helplessness.
Stories like these make you wonder about the real protection your insurance provides when the insurance company can pick what they will pay for. Couple that with CEOs from many insurance companies whose compensation can land in the millions, even tens of millions. This is clear evidence that our healthcare system is broken. It’s just not broken for everyone. The ultra-wealthy don’t have to consider the question of affordability because even if their insurance company refuses to pay, they can foot the bill themselves. It is the average consumer, like you and me, who often gets caught in these crosshairs.
Does Our Healthcare Reflect a Greater Issue in Our Society?
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ - Zechariah 7:9-10
I believe you can learn everything you need to know about a society and culture by how they treat those who are the most vulnerable. Helping those who need help the most reflects Christ’s character, and it is also a reminder of the way Christ has dealt with us. At one point, we were the vulnerable ones, trapped in our sin, yet Christ came down to us to provide a remedy and help us escape from our sin. How then can we take that same mindset and apply it to the sick, vulnerable, and the overlooked in our society?
Part of the transformation would require Congress to act, but unfortunately, who knows if or when that will happen. Until then, what are some things we can do? Perhaps the focus of our healthcare system should shift from just the treatment of disease to prevention. This does not mean we stop treating disease, but we do everything we can to prevent it. This may require greater education on health, nutrition, and the value of exercise, but, more importantly, creating systems of accountability and giving help to people so they can implement the education.
Financial literacy remains a problem for many people in our country. There is a connection between your financial health and the effect it has on your physical health. Maybe our fight needs to be to help people with upskilling, education, and fighting for higher wages, so people can at least have a chance in this healthcare game that is clearly rigged against those who are not the highest earners.
One solution I heard mentioned was giving people more access to Health Savings Accounts (HSA). To use an HSA, you must have a high-deductible health plan. For 2026, this means that an individual would have to pay at least $1,700 before their insurance kicks in. If they have a family, then that minimum jumps to $3,400. This is the minimum deductible, so it’s possible your plan's deductible could be higher. So again, that helps the high-income earners but leaves behind the lower-income earners.
Many people who rely on social safety net programs like Medicaid have been chastised, and this troubles me. In every system, there is the possibility of abuse, but most people on these programs are not looking to abuse the system. They need it for survival. When premiums are skyrocketing, wages are stagnant, and layoffs are prevalent, people turn to these programs for help, and there should be no shame in that. As followers of Christ, our responsibility is to care for these people and not belittle them for their situation. Everyone deserves dignity and respect because they are created in the image of God. People who are poor, sick, or vulnerable are no different. They are not burdens; they are neighbors who need God’s love just as you do.
Solving a healthcare crisis is not something Christians can do on their own because the problem goes beyond just healthcare. Factors such as wages, housing, education, racism, geography, and broader economic structures cannot be overlooked. Also, don’t forget about rising costs and greed. However, giving a helping hand is something we can do. We can advocate for policies that reflect justice and mercy, support organizations that provide affordable care, teach financial and health literacy, and foster communities where the sick and vulnerable are embraced.
Regardless of what happens with healthcare laws in the future, our mission will always remain the same. We care for those who are needy. Even amid all these unknowns, let’s do what we know to do. Embody Christ’s compassion, love people, and reflect God’s heart for every person made in his image. It may not completely solve the issue, but at least it positions us to show people the love of Jesus.
Photo Credit: Kristine Wook/Unsplash
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
