Is this time different?

[crashdown]

Hummer.

I am self employed. I have healthcare via the healthcare exchange-there is no other way.
In Alaska 400% of family poverty level is higher than any other state at 133K for a family of 3.
This is the last year of increased subsidies. I made about 200K so Im living large. After paying my quarterly taxes my CPA told me yesterday that Ill still owe between 38-44k in taxes due mostly to paying back subsidies from healthcare tax credits, and that is after all the handouts that still exist in 2025.
In 2026 the subsidy cliff will come back, one penny over 133k and we get no subsidies. Self employment tax is about 27 percent and I really have very little that I can legally write besides mileage.
Our current health plan is 3300 a month without tax credits and expected to go up as much as 40 percent in 2026. Lets say it goes up just a fraction of that to 4000 a month, I'm paying 48,000 a year for insurance plus 27 percent self employment tax less a few write offs. I still have deductibles, out of pocket, prescriptions, etc. PLUS I still pay 100 percent of all vision, dental, and orthodontic as none of that is covered under ACA.
A lot of people will wash out of Obamacare in 2026 because they cant afford the increase, so the BIG increase is expected in 2027 when the costs are spread between fewer people.
Next year Im looking at making about the same.. 200,000 dollars. After self employment taxes and monthly healthcare premiums, that cuts my income damn near in half. Oh did I mention that I might want to retire someday so I contribute to my own 401K? I digress.. since this year after all those gravy government subsidies and my taxes, healthcare, and retirement, Im looking at taking home closer to 50k, I cant wait for 2026 where might take home nothing, and 2027 where I might actually have to pay just to exist. Its starting look like taking a minimum wage job might be our best option, more take home and expanded medicaid, all healthcare, vision, dental, 100 percent free and no pesky paperwork. I’ll also throw in that my wife, who is college educated in the medical field has been offered jobs with healthcare provided. If healthcare is offered by either spouses employee, you are not eligible for ACA healthcare exchange insurance. If she took the job, the insurance was so much she would work full time, not collect a paycheck AND I would have to write her employer a check every month to make up the difference between her income and the monthly insurance premium.