From Obamacare to the "Unaffordable Care Act," Mike Smith Tells It Like It Is

Mike Smith joins the Health Policy Podcast for a candid conversation on premiums, subsidies, and where the private market goes from here.

When a 30-year health insurance veteran says the Affordable Care Act has become the "Unaffordable Care Act," it's worth listening. Brokerage Inc. President Emeritus, Mike Smith, joined the Atlas Point Media Health Policy Podcast for a frank, unfiltered conversation about the state of American healthcare, and he didn't pull punches. From the dramatic premium hikes that followed the expiration of enhanced subsidies in late 2025, to the rise of limited major medical plans and healthcare sharing programs as consumers scramble for alternatives, Mike walks through exactly how we got here and what the road ahead looks like.

Perhaps most striking is where the conversation lands: after three decades in the industry, Mike acknowledges that the private market alone may not be enough, and that at some point, a broader government partnership may be unavoidable. That's not a small statement. And it's exactly the kind of honest, big-picture thinking that separates agents who truly understand the market from those just selling products. If you want to understand the forces reshaping healthcare coverage right now, and be prepared for the conversations your clients are about to start having, this episode is your starting point.

Read the full feature and listen to the episode on Atlas Point Media