In the past week, I have had three clients tell me that they have received letters from their insurance companies stating that their premiums will increase in the new year due to the changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, if ACA premium tax credits expire at the end of the year, which seems more likely as the government shutdown continues, "premiums are predicted to increase for 2026 by an average of 75 percent."
Have you ever googled a health question that you'd normally ask a doctor or therapist? Today, more information is available than ever. People can privately access guidance through AI chatbots that feels like talking to a real provider. With mental health care still difficult to access for many, it's understandable that many turn to free, anonymous, on-demand chatbots for support. While AI tools can be trained to simulate therapy, relying solely on them leaves significant gaps in mental health care.