Medical Premiums May Cost More Than Your Mortgage: How the Middle Class Can Balance Both

American families are now paying more for health insurance than their mortgage. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, the average family premium for employer-sponsored coverage reached $26,993 annually (or $2,249 per month), exceeding the national median mortgage payment of $2,025, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. For millions of middle-class families with job-based coverage, health insurance now competes directly with housing for budget dominance ...