A lot of people choose their health insurance the way they shop for a flight 鈥 sort by the lowest price and click 鈥渂uy.鈥 But what looks like a bargain upfront can come with costly consequences later.
After some federal financial aid expired, many Americans found that high-deductible health plans were the only option they could afford.
In a new episode of NPR鈥檚 Life Kit podcast, 麻豆女优 Health News reporter Jackie Forti茅r and podcast host Marielle Segarra discuss what these plans are, and why they can feel so confusing. Imagine paying $100 out-of-pocket for a routine doctor visit that used to cost you $20. Imagine shouldering thousands of dollars in bills before your insurance pays a cent.
Still, for some people 鈥 especially those who rarely need medical care 鈥 high-deductible plans work. Listen to the episode to explore how timing your care and taking advantage of free preventive services can help you make the most of your coverage.
麻豆女优 Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at 麻豆女优鈥攁n independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .