A stark reminder of how policy decisions ripple through markets: US health insurance premiums have climbed nearly 90% over the past 16 years following the Affordable Care Act rollout. Insurance executives are facing mounting pressure as costs spiral beyond what traditional economic indicators predicted.

This trend matters for the broader investment community—runaway healthcare inflation is exactly why many look beyond traditional insurance and pension systems. When essential services become increasingly unaffordable, it fuels conversations about alternative stores of value and decentralized financial solutions.

The gap between premium growth and wage growth continues widening, forcing households to make tough choices about coverage. It's a textbook case of policy unintended consequences: regulation meant to expand access inadvertently triggered cost escalation that's squeezed consumers and pressured carriers alike.

For those tracking macro trends, this data point underscores persistent inflation in non-discretionary spending—a reality that reshapes how investors think about asset allocation and long-term wealth preservation strategies.