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The Economics of Compassion in an Age of Cuts

  • Writer: Mark Fukae
    Mark Fukae
  • 14 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

By Mark Fukae - Director of Advocacy - Professionals Who Care

Illustration of a futuristic cityscape with a caregiver assisting an older adult, symbolizing compassionate caregiving amid economic challenges. Includes the title “Care Futures — The Economics of Compassion in an Age of Cuts” and a quote about caregiving trajectories. Logo for Professionals Who Care appears in the corner.
Visualizing the fragile balance between caregiving and policy in a future shaped by rising costs and shrinking safety nets.

Professionals across industries are facing a hidden crisis: caregiving responsibilities colliding with rising healthcare costs and shrinking safety nets. For those balancing careers with elder care, the stakes are higher than ever.


At Professionals Who Care, we believe caregiving is not a distraction from work - it is the infrastructure that makes work possible. Yet Medicare premiums are climbing, ACA subsidies are expiring, and Medicaid work requirements threaten millions.

“Caregiving trajectories include transitions in both the care needs of the older adult and in the settings in which care is provided.” - National Academy of Sciences

Our latest feature explores how these systemic pressures affect caregivers in the workplace, and what bipartisan solutions could stabilize both families and employers.


👉 Read the full essay on Care Futures: Care Futures - Rising Costs, Falling Safety Nets


References

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2025 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. Baltimore: CMS, 2025.

  • “It’s Official. Medicare Part B 2026 Premium Will Eat a Big Chunk of Social Security COLA.” USA Today, October 15, 2025.

  • “Seniors Hit with 10 Percent Medicare Part B Cost Increase in 2026.” The Hill, October 16, 2025.

  • Medicare.gov. . 2025 Medicare Costs. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2025.

  • “ACA Premiums to More Than Double Without Enhanced Subsidies: KFF.” CNBC, September 2025.

  • Brookings Institution. “Why Are Expiring ACA Subsidies Raising Health Insurance Premiums?” Washington, DC: Brookings, 2025.

  • Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Health Insurance Premium Spikes Imminent as Tax Credit Enhancements Set to Expire.” Washington, DC: CBPP, 2025.

  • Kaiser Family Foundation. A Closer Look at the Work Requirement Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law. San Francisco: KFF, 2025.

  • Ballotpedia. “Work Requirements Policies in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).” Ballotpedia, July 2025.

  • American Medical Association. “Changes to Medicaid, the ACA and Other Key Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” AMA Policy Brief, July 2025.

  • House Budget Committee Democrats. President Biden’s 2025 Budget: Protects Medicare and Lowers Health Care Costs for American Families. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives, 2025.

  • Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. “Biden Reveals Health Care Priorities in FY 2025 Budget.” Policy Alert, March 2025.

  • Senate Finance Committee Republicans. “Crapo: Republicans Stand Ready to Work on Meaningful Health Care Reform.” Washington, DC: U.S. Senate, 2025.

  • House Ways and Means Committee Republicans. “Republicans Deliver Lower Health Costs, More Choice, and Greater Control for Working Families.” Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives, 2025.

  • “Republicans Eye Health Care Reform as Democrats Push to Extend Obamacare Subsidies.” Deseret News, September 2025.

 
 
 

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