When Stability Breaks: A Caregiver’s Warning About America’s Healthcare Crisis
- Mark Fukae
- Dec 20
- 2 min read
By Mark Fukae - Director of Advocacy - Professionals Who Care
In his latest Substack essay, Our Lives On Hold: When Stability Breaks, caregiver advocate Mark Fukae delivers a searing account of what happens when caregiving collides with a broken insurance system.
From his mother’s recent CT scan to his wife’s mother’s slow recovery from bronchitis, Mark paints a vivid picture of caregiving under pressure. But the real crisis? His employer is dropping coverage next July because premiums will triple - a direct result of Congress failing to extend ACA subsidies.
“What I’m losing is not healthcare. I’m losing insurance.”
Mark’s piece is more than personal. It’s policy-driven, data-backed, and urgent. He cites verified numbers:
22 million Americans will be affected
114% average premium increases
$500-$1,000 monthly spikes for many families
And he calls out the political theater of one-time HSA deposits - gestures that do nothing to fix the structural instability caregivers face.
We urge you to read and share his full piece:
👉 Read and Listen to the full Substack post
Then take action:
✅ Sign and share the petition (736 have done so): The CARE Act: A Smart Investment for Working Caregivers in America & Colorado https://c.org/DLWncS9wtT
Together, we can push for affordability, portability, and prevention-first care.
📚 References & Citations
USA TODAY: “Health insurance premiums to rise as Obamacare deal remains elusive.”
USA TODAY: “Obamacare bills are about to spike. What to know for 2026.”
KFF: “ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire.”
CNBC: “ACA premiums to more than double without enhanced subsidies: KFF.”
Insurify: “22 Million ACA Enrollees Face 114% Average Premium Increase.”
Factually: “Will enhanced ACA subsidies expire or change in 2026?”
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