One in Four U.S. Workers Stuck in Jobs to Keep Their Health Insurance

Nearly one in four U.S. workers remain in unwanted jobs solely to keep health insurance, a condition known as job lock. This phenomenon has surged from 16 percent in 2021 to 24 percent today, raising structural concerns about labor market fluidity and economic efficiency.

The West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America released a survey Wednesday revealing that approximately 23 million adults are affected. Job lock is especially acute among workers with three or more chronic health conditions, where 41 percent report staying in their positions for insurance coverage. The expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies in 2025 has contributed to rising healthcare costs, which may be worsening the situation. Experts including Ellyn Maese and Larry Levitt emphasize the economic anxiety tied to healthcare affordability and its impact on job mobility.

Some policy experts have suggested reinstating ACA subsidies and reforming employer-sponsored insurance to alleviate job lock, though no specific timeline for such changes has been announced.

Staying in a job for the health insurance? About 1 in 4 Americans do, a survey says
By Joseph Kim, NPR