Open Enrollment Sticker Shock? Your Family Deserves Options.By Michael “Big Mike” Shellhart | Exodus Benefits

Michael Shellhart

3 min read

Open Enrollment is here, and plenty of families are opening their renewal notices and asking the same question:

“How are we supposed to afford this?”

Higher premiums. Deductibles that stretch the family budget. Less financial assistance—or no assistance at all.

If that sounds familiar, this is the year to be curious and compare.

At Exodus Benefits, we help you explore your choices before you commit another year of your family’s hard-earned money.

Why This Open Enrollment Deserves Your Attention

The expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits reduced assistance for many households and eliminated it for people above the income eligibility limit. Additional restrictions are narrowing eligibility further for certain groups in 2027.

Meanwhile, KFF reports that average benchmark Silver premiums are increasing approximately 13% for 2027, following a substantial increase the previous year. Your actual costs will depend on your location, plan, age, and financial assistance.

For families paying full price, those increases can hit especially hard.

Before you accept that renewal, find out what else is available.

Could Private Health Insurance Be a Better Fit?

For some families, absolutely.

If you’re self-employed, own a small business, or earn too much to qualify for financial assistance, exploring options outside the Marketplace could be well worth your time.

At Exodus Benefits, we help you compare ACA-compliant plans, private options outside the Marketplace, fixed-benefit plans, and other protection based on your needs and what’s available in your state.

We look at your doctors. Your prescriptions. Your budget. Your family.

Then we help you understand which options deserve a closer look.

You shouldn’t have to figure all of this out alone.

We can also look at building a Package of Protection—your family’s Shield Wall. By carefully combining health coverage with benefits for accidents, hospitalization, and serious illness, we may be able to create a package that better fits your needs at a better price.

Depending on eligibility and budget, we can also explore adding life insurance with living benefits, providing access to a portion of the death benefit following a qualifying illness under the policy.

Because when a serious health event happens, the financial impact can reach far beyond the doctor’s office.

The mortgage still comes due. Groceries still cost money. Missing work can mean missing income.

Your Shield Wall is about looking at that bigger picture.

Look Beyond the Monthly Payment

Could comparing your options save your family thousands of dollars a year?

It’s possible—and it starts with an actual comparison.

For example, a $250 monthly premium savings would mean $3,000 a year back in your household budget. That’s an illustration, not a guaranteed result.

But price is only part of the conversation. We also look at:

Deductibles and what you pay when you receive care.
Access to your preferred doctors and hospitals.
Prescription benefits.
Protection for major health events.
How benefits are paid and what costs remain your responsibility.

Some options offer benefits without a traditional deductible. Fixed-benefit policies pay set amounts for covered events or services, so we’ll compare those payments with potential medical costs and explain any gaps.

Our job is to make the numbers and the coverage make sense together.

Your Family Comes Before a Particular Plan

Sometimes an ACA plan is the best fit. Sometimes options outside the Marketplace deserve a closer look. Sometimes adding protection to your existing coverage makes the most sense.

At Exodus Benefits, we start with a conversation about what your family needs.

If the Marketplace is your strongest option, we’ll tell you. If another approach could offer a better fit for your budget and priorities, we’ll walk you through it.

You deserve an honest comparison and someone who takes the time to explain it.

Be Curious. Compare. Make an Informed Decision.

A renewal notice tells you what your current plan will cost.

It doesn’t tell you every option your family may have.

Before you renew, reach out to Big Mike and the team at Exodus Benefits. Have your current premium, renewal notice, doctors, and prescription list ready, and let’s explore what’s available.

Let’s build your Shield Wall—and see whether we can keep more money in your family’s pocket.

Visit ExodusBenefits.com/quote to get started.

Exodus Benefits — Faith • Family • Freedom