$2,600 per month health insurance premium: ‘The math isn’t math-ing’

February 18, 2026 - 03:45

A retired math teacher from The Villages is facing a staggering personal finance equation, as his family's health insurance premium has soared to over $2,600 per month. Michael Fell, who taught for nearly three decades before a medical retirement, finds the numbers baffling.

Fell and his wife, Dawn, moved to the community expecting to enjoy their retirement years. Instead, they are grappling with an insurance bill that has dramatically altered their financial landscape. Last year, their monthly premium for Florida Blue coverage was $723.

This January, following the expiration of enhanced federal health care subsidies, their bill experienced a drastic increase. "The math isn’t math-ing for us," Fell stated, utilizing a phrase from popular culture to underscore his predicament. He calculated the jump precisely, noting, "Which caused our premium to go up by about 259%. I’ll throw some math out there for the audience as a former math teacher."

His situation is not isolated but reflects a broader trend of escalating insurance costs across Florida, placing severe strain on retirees and families. The sudden loss of financial assistance has left many, like the Fells, struggling to afford essential coverage, turning retirement security into a pressing daily calculation.