If Venus Williams Needs Health Insurance, What Hope Do We Have?

On August 4, 2025, tennis legend Venus Williams made headlines with a comment that shocked many: she joked that she might return to tennis for the health insurance. Watch the clip here (YouTube)Read the full Bloomberg opinion piece

Whether she meant it seriously or not, the comment struck a nerve — and it revealed a bigger truth: even elite athletes aren’t immune to the flaws in our healthcare system. If someone like Venus is talking about insurance challenges, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Health Insurance Inequality: Women, Athletes, and the Underserved

Here’s the reality: women typically use health insurance more often than men, thanks to reproductive care, preventive screenings, and caregiving roles. Yet women athletes, like Venus, often receive fewer health benefits than their male counterparts. And in the workforce, many women are in part-time or self-employed roles that offer no employer-sponsored coverage at all.

That’s where the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was supposed to help. But even the ACA has its cracks — especially when it comes to the Premium Tax Credit.

The Premium Tax Credit “Sweet Spot”: Not Too High, Not Too Low

Let’s break it down:

• If your income is too high, you don’t qualify for any assistance.

• If your income is too low, you may not get a tax credit at all — and instead be pushed toward Medicaid.

• In some states, if Medicaid hasn’t expanded, low-income families fall into a coverage gap where they can’t get help from either system.

There’s a “Goldilocks zone” for getting help with your premiums, but not everyone fits in it. That’s a big problem.

To make it worse, many of the expanded ACA subsidies created by the American Rescue Plan and later extended may expire or shrink next year. The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” (a nickname for recent legislative attempts at healthcare reform) may impact both Premium Tax Credit eligibility and Medicaid thresholds in 2026 — but we’re still waiting on the fine print.

Medicaid: A Moving Target

Medicaid is vital for the most vulnerable, but it’s also in flux. Since pandemic-era protections ended, millions of Americans have been kicked off Medicaid during redeterminations — even if they still qualify.

If you or someone you love has Medicaid, it’s critical to:

• Check your mail and respond to all Medicaid notices

• Update your contact info with your state Medicaid office

• Explore Marketplace coverage if you’re no longer eligible

Set up a consultation with me to review your coverage options or prepare for these changes.

How to Navigate a Broken Healthcare System

Let’s be real: our healthcare system isn’t designed to keep you well. It’s designed to treat illness, often with expensive prescriptions and procedures.

That’s why I teach my clients to use every tool available — and be their own health advocate.

Here’s how to start:

✅ Get your preventive visits — they’re often 100% covered.✅ Use your benefits — don’t wait until you're sick.✅ Ask for second opinions — especially for major procedures.✅ Review your bills — errors happen often.✅ Appeal denied claims — you have the right.✅ Negotiate medical collections — many agencies will work with you.

The system may be confusing, but ignoring it won’t make it better.

The Healthiest People Still Need Coverage

Let’s also debunk a big myth: “If I’m healthy, I don’t need insurance.”

That’s just not true.

In fact, people who are outdoors, active, and living a healthy lifestyle are often more at risk for:

• Lyme disease or tick-borne illnesses

• Sprained ankles, broken bones, or sports injuries

• Accidents that require emergency care

Even Venus Williams, a world-class athlete, knows this. That’s why she brought up health insurance in the first place.

Don’t Throw Your Hands Up — Get Help Instead

I know it’s overwhelming. I hear this every week:

“If someone like Venus can’t afford health insurance, how am I supposed to?”

But that’s exactly why you need an advocate. Someone to help you:

• Understand your options

• Find affordable plans (even temporary or indemnity coverage, when needed)

• Improve your wellness through diet, screenings, and health routines

Even if all I do is help you get your annual physical on the calendar or guide you toward better nutrition, that’s a step forward.

Because while we might not be able to fix the entire system overnight, we can work within it to protect ourselves.

Final Word

Venus Williams shined a light on something we all feel: healthcare is broken. But ignoring it won’t fix it.

Whether you’re a tennis legend or just trying to keep your family afloat, you deserve coverage, clarity, and care.

Profice means benefit — and as your agent, that’s exactly what I aim to be: a benefit to you.

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