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For a Chinese couple in Southern California, their monthly medical insurance payments will increase from 12 yuan to 2,145 yuan due to subsidies being canceled in 2027, showing that California’s new insurance rules have a heavy impact on groups such as work visas.
Southern CaliforniaSugar The couple originally only had to pay 12 yuan per month for medical insurance, but next year they will have to pay more than 2,000 yuan per year.premium price Up to 25,000 yuan, the high cost is not affordable. With Covered California canceling premium subsidies for some policyholders in 2027, many families are facing the pressure of significantly increased medical insurance expenses. Some Chinese people said helplessly that their families are crying over this and their lives are becoming more difficult.
Jasmine Hung, personal health insurance manager at Huaxing Insurance, said,los angeles A Chinese couple aged 50 and 60 originally had a monthly premium of only 12 yuan. After the subsidy is canceled next year, their monthly premiums will reach 926 yuan and 1,219 yuan respectively, a total of 2,145 yuan. He said that when the couple learned the news, they were shocked. The difference between before and after was huge.
Jasmine pointed out that strictly speaking, this is not a sudden increase in premiums, but rather that most of the costs that were originally borne by government subsidies must now be paid by the policyholders themselves. In fact, the original price of the premium has been restored.
He said the total monthly premium for the couple in 2026 is 1,944 yuan. Since they are eligible for subsidies, they actually pay 12 yuan per month. But starting from 2027, both people will no longer be eligible for subsidies and must bear the entire premium themselves, a total of 2,145 yuan per month, an actual increase of 201 yuan compared with 1,944 yuan this year; However, because they only paid 12 yuan per month before, the family’s actual expenses will increase by more than 2,100 yuan.
It is reported that the Chinese couple has a work permit but has not yet taken a green card. Medical insurance subsidies have been canceled as a result of his immigration status. California State Coverage officially informed that to receive financial assistance starting January 1, 2027, you must have legal permanent resident (citizens, including green cards), immigrant from Cuba and Haiti, or Treaty of Free Association (COFA) immigration status. In addition, insured persons who were able to receive health insurance financial subsidies in the past, including work visas, student visas, asylum status, refugee status, special visas, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), will no longer be eligible for subsidies.
Facing immense financial pressure, the Chinese couple tried every possible way to adjust their insurance arrangements. The wife got a job and the company provided medical insurance; The husband still had to buy it himself because of his medical needs, and finally chose a plan with a monthly premium of more than 1,200 yuan. Jasmine said that such cases are not unusual. Huaxing Insurance Company alone has affected at least thousands of customers by canceling premium subsidies. According to information previously shared by Covered California, 130,000 uninsured people in California may have their medical insurance subsidies canceled next year, including 100,000 Chinese Americans.
Regarding the substantial increase in premiums, Jasmine suggested that those affected should take advantage of the current open insurance period, contact their insurance brokers as soon as possible, and re-examine their policies and alternative health insurance plans. If you do not take the initiative to adjust, the policy will be automatically renewed, and you will have to pay the higher premium from January next year. He added that policyholders can evaluate whether they should adjust their insurance plans to reduce monthly expenses, such as switching from a silver plan to a bronze plan with lower premiums. However, before adjusting a plan, you still need to compare not only the premium, but also the deductible, co-pays, medical networks, and coverage.
Additionally, Jasmine said people running small businesses can also ask their insurance brokers to evaluate whether purchasing group health insurance through the company is more cost-effective. He reminded that those affected should consult as soon as possible, and it is best to complete the policy review and necessary adjustments before December to avoid discovering a significant increase in premium bills just after the start of the New Year.
Summary FAQ
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The main reason is not that the premiums themselves have skyrocketed, but rather that much of the amount originally subsidized by the government will no longer be paid, and couples will have to pay the original price instead. The total monthly payment of the two of them in 2026 is 1,944 yuan, but they actually only pay 12 yuan. From 2027, they will have to pay 2,145 yuan from their own pocket.
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Starting January 1, 2027, citizens, green card holders, immigrants from Cuba and Haiti, and COFA immigrants can still receive subsidies; However, work visas, student visas, asylum, refugee, special visas and TPS status will no longer be eligible for financial assistance.
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It is recommended to contact the insurance broker as soon as possible and double-check the policy and options before December to avoid bearing higher costs directly next year after automatic renewal. You may also evaluate switching to a bronze plan, or reduce expenses through company group health insurance.
