Montana Employees Fear Insurance Costs Will Skyrocket in 2026

If it feels like everything costs more these days, groceries, gas, a simple trip to the doctor, you’re not imagining it. As open enrollment kicks off, new data from Howdy.com shows even full-time workers with health insurance are getting nervous about what’s coming next.

In a national survey of more than 900 employees, 43% of people said that they’re worried about affording their 2026 health insurance premiums. For many families here in Montana, that fear hits close to home. When you’re already budgeting around rising housing costs, winter heating bills, and grocery prices that keep creeping up, another increase in health costs feels almost impossible to absorb.

Many Montanans Paying $300 a Month Despite Having Job-Based Insurance

You’d think having insurance through work would bring peace of mind, but that’s not the case for everyone. Only 54% of workers have plans fully covered by their employer, and those who pay out of pocket are spending about $300 a month this year just for coverage.

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That’s money that could be going toward food, utilities, or childcare. And for Montanans, especially in smaller communities where wages don’t always stretch as far, that extra $300 can make or break a monthly budget.

1 in 3 Montanans With Insurance Are Delaying Medical Care Due to Cost

Here’s one of the most troubling stats from the survey: one in three people delayed medical care this year because of cost, even though they have insurance.
Think about that for a second. People are paying hundreds every month for coverage but still can’t afford to use it. It’s no wonder so many people say they wait until things get “really bad” before heading to the doctor. It’s not lack of responsibility, it’s survival math.

40% of Montana Workers Say They’d Take a Pay Cut for Affordable Healthcare

The survey also found that 40% of workers would rather have fully covered medical care than any other workplace benefit, and some even said they’d take a pay cut if it meant access to socialized healthcare. That says a lot about where we are as a country, and as a state. In Montana, most agree that basic medical care shouldn’t feel like a luxury item.

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Montanans Say Health Insurance No Longer Feels Like Real Protection

There’s a big disconnect between having insurance and actually being able to afford care. As inflation squeezes household budgets, workers are finding that “coverage” doesn’t always equal protection. Here in Montana, where small businesses make up most of our economy, both employers and employees are feeling the strain. For many, open enrollment season isn’t about choosing the “best” plan anymore, it’s about figuring out which one hurts the least.