Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban is calling out what he sees as a broken set of priorities in the American financial system.
In a post on X, Cuban highlighted how easy it is for Americans to get taxpayer-backed loans for college, homes, or business ventures, even if those efforts fail, but how difficult it is to get help with life-threatening medical costs.
“American Taxpayers will loan you money to go to college and drop out the first semester. Start a business that fails within the year. Buy a house that you can’t afford to keep up. But if you get into a horrendous car wreck and can’t afford your healthcare insurance deductible… Thoughts and Prayers to You,” Cuban wrote.
Health Care Costs Are Still Climbing
Cuban’s post comes at a time when workers are bracing for a sharp increase in health insurance costs.
According to a new report from Mercer, the cost of employer-sponsored health plans is expected to rise by an average of 6.5% in 2026—the largest jump in 15 years.
That means many employees will pay more in premiums, deductibles, and copays, both out of their paychecks and when they get medical care.
And while inflation has cooled overall, these healthcare hikes are hitting at a time when many families are already feeling squeezed.
“The cost of coverage is going up,” said Beth Umland, director of research for health and benefits at Mercer. “That’s a combination of higher prices for health care services and higher utilization.”
During the pandemic, many companies absorbed those costs to avoid passing them onto employees.
That generosity is fading. Mercer’s data shows 59% of employers now plan to shift more costs to workers, up from 44% in 2024.
What’s Driving the Price Hike?
Cancer care remains the top cost driver for employers, especially with more diagnoses and newer, pricier treatments becoming the norm.
On top of that, GLP-1 drugs, popular medications for diabetes and weight loss, are adding to the bill.
Most companies plan to cover these medications for diabetes in 2026, and about three-quarters will also cover them for obesity.
The use of mental health services has also increased, further contributing to employer expenses.
Many companies have tried to expand access to care while reducing stigma, but it comes at a cost.
And there may be more pressure on the horizon. Analysts are watching for healthcare price spikes tied to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the broader impact of his domestic policy proposals, including the “big, beautiful bill,” which some experts believe could increase the number of uninsured Americans.
System Supports Risk, Not Crisis
Cuban’s frustration taps into a broader critique: the American system is willing to subsidize risky financial choices but often abandons people in genuine crisis.
A student can drop out after one semester and still be on the hook for a government loan.
A failed business can still leave the founder with debt. A homebuyer can borrow far more than they can realistically afford. All of it, in some form, is underwritten by taxpayers.
But when someone is severely injured and can’t pay their health insurance deductible, which can run into the thousands of dollars, there is often no government help.
Cuban’s final words, “Thoughts and Prayers to You,” underscore how inadequate that response feels in the face of real suffering.
With healthcare costs on the rise again and employers shifting more of the burden onto workers, Cuban’s post is likely to resonate with a growing number of Americans who feel the system is stacked against them.
In a nation where medical debt remains one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, his point hits a nerve: financial help is easy to find when you’re chasing opportunity, but painfully scarce when you’re simply trying to survive.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Mark Cuban” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.