High-deductible plans can look like a deal, until the bills start rolling in. On this episode of the NPR podcast Life Kit , reporter Jackie Fortiér breaks down what to expect and how to prepare.
Health Care Helpline helps you navigate the hurdles between you and good care. Send us your tricky question and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle it out.
This crowdsourced project is from NPR and KFF Health News. A lot of people choose their health insurance the way they shop for a flight — sort by the lowest price and click “buy.” 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’s Life Kit podcast, KFF Health News reporter Jackie Fortiér 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.
KFF Health News published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 21 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on Listen: Cheap Health Insurance Isn’t Always Cheap.
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