The state jumped into Obamacare with both feet.  From Katie Catellani’s reportage in Providence Business News, one might conclude that the system is entirely unaffordable unless the government can come up with excuses to subsidize it:

Along with higher usage and pricing factors, individual market premiums are rising partly because of the federal Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expiring. These tax credits lower qualifying Rhode Islanders’ premiums when they purchase coverage through HealthSource RI. They were authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Under current law, the tax credits are set to sunset after 2025, unless they are extended by Congress.

Those currently using premium tax credits to enroll in coverage through HealthSource RI are expected to see an 85% rise – or almost $1,250 per household each year – in the average monthly cost of their plan, according to OHIC.

Don’t miss, by the way, a running theme.  From Democrat Governor Daniel McKee:  “Rising health insurance premiums are creating real strain for families across Rhode Island. They simply cannot continue to absorb these costs.”  Yeah, insurance premiums and energy costs, both… and other things, too.  McKee’s handwringing is performative, though.  His political party has no intention of fixing the causes of these strains.

Whether Democrats are stuck by their own ideological constraints and individual greed or actively want people to suffer so they can demand more power is a question about opinions can differ.