You are not alone. Many woke up shocked at their increase in health insurance bill on January 1st, 2026. Your marketplace plan costs are so high this year are for three main reasons. We returned to original government subsidies, the health insurance market increase 15-35%, and we returned to the original subsidy cliff at 400% FPL (Federal Poverty Level). Understanding the Healthcare Marketplace The healthcare.gov marketplace is a platform for various health insurance companies to offer health insurance plans. These plans must meet certain requirements. Some requirements include no pre-existing conditions, requiring coverage for therapy, specialty drugs, pregnancy and delivery. The program sometimes allows government money to pay for parts of your health insurance cost. The ACA started in 2013. These plans have been simple-to-use, work like employer group plans and often low cost. Those with lower income and/or high medical care needs find the most use of healthcare.gov plans. Health insurance plans not on healthcare.gov do not have the same rules and coverage requirements. What is Federal Poverty Level (FPL)? Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a formula of your family size and your household income. How much total money each member will earn for the year and your total family size fits you into an FPL percentage. This tells the government how much you pay and how much they pay. The 400% Subsidy Cliff One of the biggest drawbacks of the ACA is the 400% FPL subsidy cliff. This means if the combination of your income and family size exceeds 400% FPL, you will pay 100% of the cost. Only $1 over the cliff and you pay 100% of the health insurance costs for the entire year. Pandemic-Era Changes to Healthcare Subsidies In 2020, the US government declared a pandemic over a coronavirus outbreak. Emergency authorizations allowed the government to expand their funding to programs. Programs like Medicaid and healthcare.gov received temporary funding and looser rules. Healthcare.gov plans had two massive changes: The subsidy cliff extended to 750% of the Federal Poverty Level The government began paying more than normal Let's give you an example. Say your ratio 50% of the health insurance bill. After the emergency authorization, your cost was only 20% of the bill – at the same income and family size. These extra government payments stayed constant for nearly four years. Many thought these temporary changes was how it always been and became normal. Political Uncertainty and the 2025 Government Shutdown Last fall, two extra pressures caused more uncertainty and confusion. The extra emergency government help was set to expire at the end of 2025. Congress was to vote if they would extend the extra help, or return back to the original. This became a hot button topic. Congress shut down the government. This resulted in 30 days shorter open enrollment window to choose the right plans. No one knew if the plans would cost you 20% or the original 50% of the total insurance cost. Those who are in the 400+% subsidy cliff did not know if they would be get any help or if they were going to pay 100% of the costs. We dealt with many frustrations and much uncertainty. Congress Returns to the Original Rules Congress made a final vote after open enrollment. In January 2026, Congress chose to go back to the original rates and rules. If you saw your health insurance costs jumped 2-3x or 10x, you may now know a bit more why! The combination of government shut down and delayed voting is what made this such a surprise. Returning to original government subsidy, 400% FPL, and the large health insurance rates caused increases. Congress' delayed voting and shut down caused the surprises and Good News: There Are Other Options The good news: if you’re considering going uninsured mid-year or having trouble paying your premiums, it is not too late to explore true insurance not on the marketplace. Reach out to the Chamber for our group benefit and retiree benefit plans available to you as a chamber member! Guest Blogger: Joshua Erickson Eagle Mountain resident Joshua Erickson is a seasoned insurance strategist with seven years of industry experience and going on fifth successful open enrollment cycle. An honors Finance graduate from UVU and a Wolverine Fund alumnus, he leverages his high-level analytical background to bring Wall Street-level precision to local benefits planning. Joshua Erickson specializes in stabilizing corporate budgets by securing level and flat renewals for employee and retiree benefits, while also providing sophistic ated advocacy for individuals targeted by the IRS. By bridging the gap between complex finance and practical coverage, he delivers predictable, long-term stability for his neighbors and their businesses. _______________________________________ Facebook: @Josh.e223 Instagram: /joshuae223 LinkedIn: @joshuaerickson1a

How to Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret inTown

Valley Crossroads Chamber members gathered at Village Baker in Saratoga Springs for Flash Lunch networking and community connections.

Mayor Chris Carn and Congressman Burgess Owens testified before Congress supporting the Saratoga Springs Post Office Act.

Jr. Chamber Makerspace Open Lab in Eagle Mountain gives students hands-on experience with 3D printing, podcasting, design tools, and entrepreneurship.

The Valley Crossroads Chamber hosted the Meta Building Business Workshop, helping entrepreneurs grow their audience and marketing using social media and AI tools.

Local mayors from Cedar Fort, Fairfield, Eagle Mountain, and Saratoga Springs joined the Valley Crossroads Chamber to discuss infrastructure, growth, and transit.

Chamber Celebrates 3rd Annual Awards Gala

Meta is rolling out its annual Community Action Grants to support nonprofit organizations serving Eagle Mountain and greater Utah County. This program offers a valuable opportunity for local nonprofits—especially those in the Chamber’s network—to gain funding, expand impact, and collaborate in new ways. What Are the Community Action Grants? Meta’s Community Action Grants are a competitive funding initiative designed to support projects that address key local needs. Eligible applicants include public schools (within the Alpine School District) and qualified nonprofits operating in Utah County. Projects should align with at least one of the following goals: Leverage technology for community benefit Strengthen sustainable, resilient communities Expand access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education Applications open October 13, 2025 , and close November 21, 2025 . Grant winners will be announced in Spring 2026 , and funds are expected to be used within one year of the award. Why This Matters for Our Community Meta has committed to running this grant program locally —meaning decision-makers are closer to the ground and more familiar with Eagle Mountain’s unique needs. As Evan Berrett, Director of Legislative & Strategic Services for Eagle Mountain, explained: “This is not sending off a grant application to a Meta admin somewhere far away … This is a local program from our local Meta facilities.” Importantly, these are not tax dollars. The funding comes directly from Meta’s corporate resources. Over the years, the grants have helped fuel a variety of community initiatives: technology enhancements in schools, environmental projects, STEAM expansions, and more. Because of that track record, this year’s grant cycle holds promising potential for nonprofits in our region. How You Can Get Involved Here’s how organizations in the Valley Crossroads area can make the most of this opportunity: Review eligibility and guidelines. Be sure your nonprofit or public school fits within the criteria and understands the focus areas. Draft a compelling proposal. Focus on clear outcomes, sustainability, and how your work aligns with Meta’s goals. Leverage partnerships. The Chamber is ready to support collaboration between nonprofits, schools, and local businesses to strengthen proposals. Promote awareness. We can help share this grant opportunity across our networks to ensure maximum participation. Plan for implementation. If awarded, have a structured plan for how you’ll use the funds within the one-year timeline. Why the Chamber Supports This Initiative As the Valley Crossroads Chamber, our mission is to grow and strengthen our local economy and community. When nonprofits succeed, they enhance the quality of life for residents, create stable services, and attract new families and businesses to our region. A thriving nonprofit sector is foundational to a vibrant, resilient community. We encourage all eligible organizations in our area—even if you’ve never applied for a corporate grant before—to consider submitting a proposal. The effort of applying could yield meaningful resources and relationships that benefit your organization and the entire community.  If you’d like help brainstorming ideas, refining your grant narrative, or connecting with local partners, please reach out to us at the Chamber. We’re excited to see the innovative projects that come from our region—and committed to helping you succeed. Apply Here Sources: https://datacenters.atmeta.com/community-action-grants/ https://eaglemountain.gov/meta-to-launch-community-action-grants-for-em-nonprofits/