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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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Heather Altman quit her corporate job and opened an environmental consulting business in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act made it possible for her to afford independent health insurance. Her monthly premium for a platinum plan was $356.

Today, Altman has downgraded to a gold plan and pays $1,147 per month. That’s a 222% increase over the past decade for less comprehensive coverage. Medical inflation has always outpaced general inflation, but early analyses project premiums will increase even more dramatically as a result of the reconciliation budget recently signed by President Donald Trump, and Altman is worried she won’t be able to pay for health insurance any longer.

“Since the Senate passed this monstrosity I’ve been trying to figure out how I can land on my feet,” Altman said.

Altman is one of nearly 2 million people in California who rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, commonly known as Obamacare or Covered California. Many own their own businesses like Altman or work for small employers that don’t provide insurance.

The majority of enrollees are lower- to middle-income earners making $60,240 or less as individuals or $124,800 or less as a family of four. Nearly 800,000 people in California make half that amount.

Trump’s budget bill made significant changes to Covered California that experts and insurers say will increase out-of-pocket costs for consumers. This includes more complicated enrollment and verification procedures; eliminating automatic re-enrollment; prohibiting people who sign up outside the end-of-year open enrollment period from qualifying for financial assistance; prohibiting certain immigrant groups – including legal refugees – from receiving financial assistance; and requiring people who inaccurately predict their income to repay all subsidies received, a change from when previous repayments were capped based on income.

The biggest hit to consumers came by omission: Trump’s budget bill did not extend enhanced subsidies, which will expire at the end of this year. Those subsidies were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure more Americans could afford health insurance. As a result, premiums fell for all income levels and enrollment doubled nationwide from 12 million to 24 million people between 2021 and 2025.

In California, nearly 90% of enrollees receive federal subsidies.

Some of these changes, including the expiration of subsidies, will go into effect next year, which means consumers will see higher prices as soon as November when open enrollment starts. Other changes, such as who can enroll and when, will start in 2028.

Cost will rise significantly

In California on average, premiums are expected to increase by 66%, or $101, per month starting next year without subsidies, according to projections from Covered California. Lower-income people will see even higher increases because they receive more subsidies.

Those making less than 400% of the federal poverty level (about $60,240 per year for an individual) are projected to pay an average of $191 more monthly, according to Covered California data.

More than 170,000 middle-income enrollees will lose financial assistance entirely. Some federal subsidies will still be available, but they are less comprehensive than the enhanced subsidies, and fewer people qualify.

Congress could still decide to extend the enhanced subsidies before year’s end, but without further action costs will jump. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that nearly 4 million people nationwide would drop coverage because of cost increases if the subsidies expire.

That puts people like Altman in a bind

Altman said even without any changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the regular annual premium increases are “almost unsustainable.” Most years, she makes too much money to qualify for subsidies, but health care costs are still a drain on her finances.

On average over the past decade, Altman’s premiums have increased by more than 11% annually, according to data she shared with CalMatters. In comparison, the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, increased an average of 2.7% annually during the same time period, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Heather Altman works at her desk, inside her home office in Long Beach on July 11, 2025. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

“If this is what I knew the situation would be when I started my business, I never would have done it,” Altman said. About one in four Covered California enrollees is self-employed. Altman is contemplating asking a colleague to hire her without salary just for the benefits, she said.

That type of thinking is common right now, said Janae Trevillion, a long-time human resources consultant who works with small businesses. She said some of her clients, like Altman, are trying to get corporate jobs just for the benefits.

“There’s a lot of movement happening,” Trevillion said.

600,000 could drop Covered California

The enrollment changes that will take effect in 2028 will also cause people to get rid of their Covered California insurance, Trevillion said. As the paperwork and verification processes get more complicated, fewer people will be willing to go through the sign up process, she said.

“People get frustrated easily,” Trevillion said. “People are going to say ‘I’m not interested,’ and people are not going to want to participate in having a marketplace plan.”

Between added enrollment complexities and higher out-of-pocket costs, Covered California estimates that 600,000 Californians will drop their insurance.

“We have tried for our entire existence to make the process easier, to minimize administrative barriers, to simplify … to remove this friction from the system,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman, who is not related to Heather Altman. “We know that it matters, and so anything that goes the other way is going to result in less people covered.”

About 70% of Covered California enrollees are automatically re-enrolled each year, a process that will end under the new policies implemented by Trump’s budget reconciliation.

As more people drop out, costs will increase even further, said Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University and a leading expert on Affordable Care Act expansions.

“Any time you have big reductions in enrollment, the ones who are most likely to be disenrolled … are the healthiest, lowest cost people, so that means a sicker risk pool, which in turn means higher premiums for those inside the marketplace,” Park said.

In recent years, California has consistently had one of the lowest-risk insurance pools in the country because Covered California has successfully attracted younger and healthier people to sign up for insurance, Jessica Altman said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that premiums for Affordable Care Act benchmark silver plans, the second-to-lowest-cost silver plan in each state, will increase by an additional 7.9% as risk pools become sicker.

Raymond Truttman
June 6, 1934 – July 9, 2025

With deep regret we are sad to announce the passing of Ray Truttman due to complications from a fall. Ray was born in Arcata, Trinity Hospital, and was proud to have reached his 91st birthday. Ray was raised in Orick along with a loving sister, Delores (Dee), and brother Bernie. He always felt very fortunate to have come from a small community where he could hunt and fish for salmon and trout, literally right out his backdoor, which was right on Redwood Creek.

As a young man he was a hard worker, always employed throughout the years, beginning with restaurant work, assisting dairy ranchers and a service station. He felt honored to have always been employed.

Ray graduated from Arcata High School in 1952. Ray always made sure to attend reunions and monthly luncheons, so he was able to keep in touch with all his valued classmates. He was able to accomplish this until the age of 90.

After graduating from high school Ray was hired at the Geneva Lumber Company where he worked for five years. In September 1956 at the age of 22 he was hired by Caltrans, making him a third-generation Caltrans employee. In fact, the Truttman Sink, a section of Highway 101 near Stone Lagoon was named after Ray’s grandfather, Michael Truttman. He started out in Orick working in maintenance, but over time he advanced to equipment operator and moved to Eureka, where he retired after 30 plus years of service. Ray was able to enjoy over 40 years of retirement.

Children Jeanette and Ron were born from Ray’s first marriage. Also brought into the first marriage was a daughter, Patty, whom he loved as his own. Ray met his second wife Donna on July 4, 1965 and in very short time he knew he had met the love of his life. They were married at the First United Methodist Church in Eureka on August 13, 1965. At this time Ray was blessed with another son, Rick, that he raised as his own. Ray and Donna were happily married 1 month shy of 60 wonderful years.

Ray will be remembered as a man of integrity, a man who deeply loved and adored his wife and children. His daughter Jeannette, whom he had a very close relationship with. He always made her feel cherished and she cherished him in return. Although his son Ron proceeded him in death, Ron is remembered by his family as being very special. His son Rick will always remember Ray as his dad and will remember the talks over dinner about their beloved San Francisco Giants. His children will always remember their father as their role model. Ray was a kind, caring, loving family man and will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

After retiring Ray had many passions that he enjoyed. Ray and Donna used to love walking around their neighborhood of Ridgewood in Eureka in which they lived since the late 1960s. They would often stop and visit people met along the way. He looked forward to his weekly Thursday adventures to Blue Lake Casino where he made a lot of great friends playing his favorite game of Blackjack. He enjoyed cooking and baking right up until his fall. Ray and Donna also like to attend theater and concert performances both locally and when they travel.

Ray and Donna enjoyed traveling to many states around the country and visited Canada, Austria and Switzerland. He was proud of his Swiss heritage and enjoyed many years as a member of the Swiss club.

Ray is survived by his loving wife Donna Truttman; brother Bernie Truttman; children Jeanette (Terry) Crocker, Rick Swenson, Patty (Bill) Porter, Dana (Sheila) Ramsey; granddaughter Jessica (Court) Carlson; sister-in-law Leona Smith; and great-grandchild and many other family members.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Nora Truttman; sister Delores (Dee) Briggs; son Ron Truttman; sister-in-law Laura Truttman; brother-in-law Lonnie Smith; and with many other loving family members.

The family would also like to mention special friendships, starting with Mark Zuspan and family who were the first renters of the refurbished passenger train house on the property and have stayed friends for 50 years. Ed and Leslie Ekker who have been dear friends for many years. Sheryl Brekke, the renter of the train for the last 20 years and a helper with some of our electronic needs throughout the years. Also, a big thank you to neighbor Nick Venema who has been a great friend and a tremendous help around the property for the last few years.

Donna would like to extend her deepest gratitude to her sister, Leona Smith, for her unwavering love and support throughout the years. Leona’s dedication, especially during Ray’s recovery, has meant so much. Her daily visits to the hospital and Timber Ridge to sit and visit have been a true testament to her selflessness.

The family would like to thank Timber Ridge Assisted Living, Providence Hospital, Hospice of Humboldt for the tender care during Ray’s final days. Doctors Miriam Steinberg, John Albertini, John Mastroni, The Coumadin Clinic for their years of medical care.

A private family service will be held.

The family would like any donation to be sent to Hospice of Humboldt 3327 Timberfall Court, Eureka, CA 95503 or your favorite charity.

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Press release from the California Highway Patrol:

On 07/14/2025, at approximately 6:15 PM, the Humboldt Area CHP received a report of a head-on crash on SR-299 near Downing Road, west of Willow Creek. Upon CHP arrival, it was determined a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe owned by the California Department of Transportation vehicle had collided head-on with a 2003 GMC Yukon.

Based on the preliminary investigation, it was determined that the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe was being driven eastbound on SR-299, west of Downing Road. The 2003 GMC Yukon was being driven westbound on SR-299, east of the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe. For unknown reasons, the driver of the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe caused it to turn to the left and cross into the westbound lane of SR-299, where it collided head-on with the 2003 GMC Yukon. The driver of the 2003 GMC Yukon, as well as one of the juvenile passengers within it, suffered serious injuries as a result of this crash. All other passengers of the 2003 GMC Yukon, and the driver of the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe, sustained minor to moderate injuries. All involved parties and passengers were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

The CHP is continuing its investigation into this crash and asks anyone with information related to it to contact the Humboldt Area office at (707) 713-6300. Please reference CHP Case Number 9125-2025-00397.

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Tomorrow evening, the Blue Lake City Council is scheduled to pick someone to fill the seat vacated last month with the abrupt resignation of Councilmember Chris Firor.

Just two applicants have thrown their names in the hat, and one of them — former Mayor Adelene Jones — is actively involved in an election recall campaign that seeks to remove three of the four councilmembers charged with making the appointment: Elise Scafani, Kat Napier and Mayor John Sawatzky.

It’s only through random chance that Jones isn’t still on Blue Lake’s city council. November’s general election ended with an improbable tie for the third and final available council seat. Having received exactly 245 votes apiece, Jones and Napier put their names into envelopes that were then placed in boxes for a tie-breaking draw, with Napier emerging victorious.

In an interview this morning, Jones cited her 30 years of experience in Blue Lake city governance as a primary reason why she should be selected over the other applicant, retired elementary school teacher Terri Bayles.

Politics in Blue Lake have grown increasingly rancorous and divisive in recent years as the city struggles to navigate a path toward an uncertain future. As the city struggles to identify a post-timber economic engine, disputes surrounding proposed development projects, former City Manager Amanda “Mandy” Mager and the city’s long-overdue housing element update have split the community into sparring factions. 

Asked whether it’s awkward to request an appointment from officials she’s actively working to recall, Jones downplayed the discord.

“I sign lots of petitions, and we still have our First Amendment right to free speech in this country,” she said. She quickly added, “I would love to work with this group. I love Blue Lake — that’s my focus. There are serious issues coming up, including the housing element; the city has a $100,000 budget deficit; and now we’re going to be looking for a new city manager. I have a lot of experience with that. We hired four city managers in my time, and I would like to help with that so we get the best person for Blue Lake.”

Terri Bayles. | Photo from Arcata School District via Facebook. 

The Outpost was unable to reach Bayles, though her application says that her 30-year teaching career “gave me a unique set of skills to work with the public and the ability to have many major projects going at one time.”

Earlier this year, Bayles launched an online petition in opposition to a proposal to convert the city’s defunct power plant into a lithium-iron-phosphate battery energy storage system (BESS). The city council recently canceled Blue Lake’s exclusive negotiating agreement with the Texas-based energy developer PowerTransition LLC, so that plan appears to have vaporized.

A 43-year resident of Blue Lake, Bayles vows in her application that she would “work hard to serve our community and help support a transparent, functional government … .”

Jones countered that Bayles “has really had no experience with city government at all,” beyond her public opposition to the BESS project. 

Asked if she would continue to pursue the recall effort against Sawatzky, Scafani and Napier even if she’s appointed to the city council, Jones said probably so, though she added that there are more immediate problems that need to be addressed, including the hiring of a new city manager and dealing with the $100,000 budget deficit.

Housing Element Update

The other big item Jones sees as a priority is the city’s overdue housing element update, which has been among the community’s most contentious issues, even as the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) threatens fines and penalties for continued failure to submit an updated element that complies with state law.

The council could potentially do that tomorrow night — well ahead of the nine-month timeline they proposed back in May. (In March, a narrowly divided council voted 3-2 not to adopt a state-approved draft housing element update, with the council majority voicing doubts about development plans in the Powers Creek District.) The state rejected that timeline in a notice of violation issued last month, and a slightly revised housing element update is being presented for discussion and possible approval tomorrow night.

In revising the draft, staff reduced the projected number of housing units that could potentially be built on vacant sites in the Powers Creek District. However, the draft plan still allows enough development to meet the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), meaning it’s projected share of housing to accommodate the state’s population growth. 

The staff report says the state has already signed off on this new draft.

“The revisions to the Draft Housing Element Update were reviewed by HCD on July 14, 2025, and they determined that the revisions were minor adjustments and would not require further review by their department prior to adoption by the City,” the report says.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. inside the Skinner Store, right behind City Hall at 111 Greenwood Road. For more information, visit the City Council page on Blue Lake’s website.

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The Southern Humboldt Community Health District (SoHum Health) is still looking for participants for an upcoming clinical trial studying the use of buprenorphine in adults with opioid use disorder. The study is specifically geared toward people struggling with opioid addiction in rural communities, where access to health care and treatment providers is often scarce.

The trial is part of a nationwide study by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network exploring the efficacy of two different forms of buprenorphine, a medication, or “partial agonist,” that binds to receptors in the brain to help users taper off of opioids without the intense effects of “full agonists” like heroin or methadone. The study is comparing two formulations of the medication: a once-a-month, long-acting injection and a daily sublingual film that dissolves under the tongue.

Lexi Stowe, a project coordinator for SoHum Health, told the Outpost that the researchers leading the clinical trial are studying seven remote communities, including Southern Humboldt, to determine which form of the medication has the best success rate among rural residents.

“In rural areas, it’s a lot less likely for patients to seek care for opioid use disorder due to a number of factors, including access to health care and being able to get into the clinic and get the care that you need,” Stowe said. “I know that we have multiple patients who commute over 20 minutes just to see the doctor, sometimes even more. The idea is, if people have to come in for fewer appointments, it’s saving time and could potentially be more effective because [there are] fewer appointments.”

Participants in the 14-week trial must be 18 years or older and in good general health, meet diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder and be willing to be randomly assigned one of the two medications. During the screening process, a physician will go over the patient’s medical history and assess potential safety risks in their participation. 

“After you go through all of those steps, you get all the information, you feel like you’re confident and you know everything there is to know about the trial, then we make sure both your mental and physical health is a good fit for the trial as well,” Stowe said. “Then you get to the point of randomization, where you’re randomized to either the sublingual or the extended-release buprenorphine … .”

While the trial is geared toward people living in Southern Humboldt, Stowe said anyone willing to make the trek to Garberville for appointments will be considered. 

“As long as you can make the appointments, anybody and everybody’s welcome,” she said. “You have two appointments in the first two weeks, and then they go to monthly appointments. If you feel like you need more appointments for whatever reason, or if you’re concerned about something, I can just get a phone call from them, and we can set up an appointment sooner if needed.”

The deadline to apply for the trial is Friday, July 25. More information can be found in the flyer below.

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Rotary Club of Eureka release:

The Rotary Club of Eureka has awarded a $1,500 grant to the Bridgeville Community Center, supporting the organization’s efforts with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This contribution will help provide free books to children across Humboldt County, fostering early literacy and a love for reading.

The Rotary Club of Eureka is dedicated to supporting projects that deliver lasting, positive change in our community. Through its Small Grants program, the Club funds local organizations whose charitable projects benefit Eureka and surrounding areas.

The Bridgeville Community Center serves as Humboldt County’s liaison for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Each month, the program mails a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book to local children at no cost to their families. More than 1,500 children in Humboldt County currently receive books through the program, with over 10,000 books mailed to date. “Literacy is essential for lifelong learning and the well-being of our communities,” said Dale Warmuth, President of the Rotary Club of Eureka. “We’re excited to work with the Bridgeville Community Center on this important project.”

For more information about the Rotary Club of Eureka, visit www.rotary1.org.  To learn more about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library or enroll a child, contact the Bridgeville Community Center.

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Press release from the Six Rivers National Forest:

Butler Fire: 17,116 acres; 6% containment

Red Fire: 116 acres; 80% containment

Operational Updates:

Butler Fire: The Butler Fire tested containment lines July 20 with a mix of spot fires and rollouts. Spotting occurred on both the north and south ends of the fire west of the Salmon River, while the fire east of the river had moderate growth.

East of Salmon River, fire remained active in the Crapo Creek drainage. A new line of retardant limited its forward progression as crews reinforced handlines. Crews continued to construct direct line from Yellow Jacket Ridge down to Sawyers Bar Road. Fire reached Sawyers Bar Road in two locations, but firefighters and aircraft kept the fire from crossing the North Fork Salmon River.

On the west side of Salmon River, fire pushed through McNeal Creek drainage and threw spots across handline into the adjacent Knownothing Creek drainage, prompting the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office to issue evacuation orders for zones SIS-1802 (upper Nordheimer) and S-1903 (upper Knownothing Creek).

To the north, a spot fire was detected across the Salmon River near Tripp Point. Aircraft responded quickly, laying down a line of retardant to impede any northernly spread. Firefighters were ferried across the river to contain it.

Evacuations: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office expanded its evacuation orders July 20 to include zones to include zones SIS-1802 and SIS-1903. The following zones continue to be under evacuation orders: FRK-1709 (Forks of Salmon), SIS-1703, SIS-1704 (Butler Creek, Lewis Creek, Bloomer Mine residents and Nordheimer Campground), SIS-1707-A, SIS-1707-B, SIS-1708, SIS-1710, SIS-1803-A, SIS-1804, SIS-1805 and SIS-1808.

The Siskiyou Office of Emergency Services has established a dedicated phone number to assist people with their evacuation needs: 530-340-3539. Zones SAW-1713, SIS-1705, SIS-1712, SIS-1803-B, SIS-1811, SIS-1906 and SIS-1907 are under an evacuation warning, where residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate if conditions become more threatening.

The latest evacuation information can be found at https://protect.genasys.com.

Closures:

Butler Fire: Salmon River Road between Butler Flat and Nordheimer Campground remains closed as rocks and burning debris continued to fall onto the roadway.

National Forests: The Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests issued a joint closure order July 16 within the vicinity of the Butler Fire. The closure includes Nordheimer and Oak Bottom campgrounds. The Pacific Crest Trail remains outside of the closure area, but hikers are advised to exercise caution.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A marine layer today has ushed in some of the lowest temperatures and highest humidity readings since the Butler Fire began. Temperatures will be in the low 80s with humidity at 55 percent along ridgetops. Winds will remain out of the northwest, gusting up to 20 miles an hour.

Fire Safety and Prevention: The Six Rivers National Forest is implementing level 1 fire restrictions beginning today. Restrictions going into effect cover a range of potential fire igniting activities, such as building and maintaining campfires in certain areas, smoking, and operating spark-causing equipment and other tools.

For more information on restrictions and ongoing fire operations, visit the forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/alerts.

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