$35,000 Health Coverage—Proof That You’re Just a Host for the System’s Parasites

The $35,000 Toll: A Symptom of Systemic Decay According to the 2025 Milliman Medical Index, the cost of covering a family of four under an employer-sponsored health plan is now $35,119 annually. That’s right—what used to buy you a decent used car now just keeps you barely protected from financial ruin should you get sick. Two decades ago, the same plan ran you $12,214. That’s a 188% increase. Meanwhile, wages crept up a meager 84%. Translation: you’re paying more and keeping less. The system doesn’t care if you can’t afford it. It only cares that you keep playing the game. Who’s Siphoning Off Your Paycheck? Milliman’s breakdown points fingers at two usual suspects: outpatient services and pharmaceutical costs. But let’s…