2026 Health Insurance Reality Check, with Bill Neglia (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 911)
Health insurance expert Bill Neglia of Neglia Insurance Group returns to North Fulton Business Radio with a blunt update on 2026 open enrollment. In a conversation with host John Ray, Bill notes that many exchange plans are seeing steep gross premium hikes at the same time enhanced tax credits from 2022 expire, which means higher net premiums for a large share of households. He explains why renewal letters look so shocking this year, how out-of-pocket maximums are rising to 10,500 per person, and why auto-renewing could be a costly mistake.
Bill outlines what to do before the December 15 deadline, the impact of Aetna’s exit from the individual marketplace, and the tradeoffs in non-marketplace alternatives for healthier buyers who are priced out. He also shares practical steps for comparing plans now, not in late December, so coverage and costs align on January 1.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Premiums are up while 2022’s enhanced subsidies are ending, which is why many renewal notices show big net increases.
- 2026 out-of-pocket maximums jump to 10,500 per person, increasing total potential exposure.
- Avoid relying on auto-renew; explore alternative options before December 15 to prevent sticker shock on January 1.
- Aetna’s marketplace exit narrows choices, and some priced-out consumers may consider medically underwritten, non-marketplace plans with limitations.
- Compare total cost, not just the premium, including deductibles, coinsurance, and the out-of-pocket maximum.
- Recheck networks and drug formularies, since plans and covered meds change year to year.
- Healthy buyers who lose subsidies can look at non-marketplace options but should understand underwriting, exclusions, and caps.
- Act early so coverage and ID cards are ready for a January 1 start, avoiding gaps or billing surprises.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:33 Guest Introduction: Bill Neglia, Neglia Insurance Group
02:14 Health Insurance Market Overview
02:53 Challenges in 2026 Health Insurance
04:22 Impact of Reduced Tax Credits
10:28 Options for Health Insurance
23:22 Medicare Open Enrollment
28:36 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
30:06 Additional Business Insights
Bill Neglia, Founder, Neglia Insurance Group
Inspired by a family friend’s offer of mentorship, Bill started his career in insurance over 40 years ago. He was drawn to the autonomy of the industry and the desire to make a difference in people’s lives. This commitment was underscored when a meeting led a client to discover a life-threatening heart condition, which reaffirmed the importance of his role.
To best serve his clients, Bill begins with a comprehensive questionnaire, ensuring he understands their unique needs before discussing solutions. Guided by transparency and genuine care, he always prioritizes the client’s interest, setting him apart in the industry.
Outside work, rock concerts are his escape, where he sees parallels to his profession: individual performers coming together for a harmonious result. That balance is pivotal in his personal life too. When his wife, Sandy, faced a cancer diagnosis, he became her primary caregiver. This period cemented his belief in the importance of personal connection and empathy in his business.
His family is his inspiration. With Sandy, their children Danny and Caitlin, and six grandchildren, he finds joy in spending time with them, either at home or traveling with his family. Whether it’s golf with his son, watching sports, or being amused by their five granddogs, these experiences enrich his interactions with clients.
Bill’s not just your insurance agent with decades of experience, but he’s a compassionate adviser committed to serving your individual and family needs.
Neglia Insurance Group
Bill Neglia started his health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance agency in 1983 as a one-person operation.
Since then, he has added a full-time office administrator, Charlotte, his son Dan, and his son-in-law, Zach, to the team. The agency specializes in working with mainly self-employed individuals, their families and their employees to make sure they have the most suitable and cost-effective health insurance and other benefit plans available.
Bill’s team uses a comprehensive “hands-on” approach from initial contact to quote, enrollment, and servicing the policy after the sale.
Bill and his team have never charged their clients a penny for their time and professional services. They are compensated by the insurance carriers themselves. The premium you pay is exactly the same whether you use Bill and his team or do it yourself.
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star rated book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
