On January 1, 2026, the "affordability cliff" arrived — and for thousands of working families in the Rogue Valley, health insurance just became unaffordable overnight.

In this episode, Noah Volz breaks down the healthcare crisis quietly unfolding in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties: the expiration of federal premium subsidies, double-digit rate hikes from regional insurers like Regence and Providence, and the "dead zone" that now traps middle-income families earning just enough to be ineligible for OHP Bridge but not enough to absorb a $500/month Silver Plan premium.

We explore the structural forces behind this squeeze — from the healthcare workforce shortage and the geography problem facing rural residents in places like Cave Junction and Rogue River, to the slow erosion of institutional trust and what it actually costs when  ...