{"id":2228954,"date":"2026-04-21T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/?p=2228954"},"modified":"2026-04-21T10:48:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:48:53","slug":"listen-health-care-helpline-life-kit-high-deductible-plans-out-of-pocket-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/insurance\/listen-health-care-helpline-life-kit-high-deductible-plans-out-of-pocket-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen: Cheap Health Insurance Isn\u2019t Always Cheap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero--multimedia wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero--background-light-blue\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__kicker wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__kicker--blue\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/series\/health-care-helpline\/\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__kicker-link\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__kicker-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHealth Care Helpline\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__title\">Listen: Cheap Health Insurance Isn\u2019t Always Cheap<\/h1>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__multimedia-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<iframe\n\tclass=\"block--iframe is-full-width\"\n\tallow=\"fullscreen\"\n\tframeborder=\"0\"\n\theight=\"260\"\n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5789099\/nx-s1-mx-5789099-1\"\n\twidth=\"100%\"\n><\/iframe>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__subheadline\">High-deductible plans can look like a deal, until the bills start rolling in. On this episode of the NPR podcast \u201cLife Kit,\u201d reporter Jackie Forti\u00e9r breaks down what to expect and how to prepare.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__meta\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__byline-and-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__byline-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__author\">\n\t\tBy <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/author\/jackie-fortier\/\">Jackie Forti\u00e9r<\/a>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__date-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__date\">\n\t\tApril 21, 2026\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__republish-button\">\n\t\t<button id=\"cc-btn\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"window.location.href='\/republish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228954'\" role=\"link\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__republish-btn\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__republish-btn-text\">Republish<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/es\/spanish-homepage\/\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDisponible en Espa\u00f1ol\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/chinese\/\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAvailable in Chinese\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/korean\/\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-article-hero__spanish-btn-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAvailable in Korean\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kff-news-modern-news-content-container\">\n\t\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-sidebar alignright \">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-partner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-partner__image--link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/20\/nx-s1-5789099\/make-the-most-of-a-high-deductible-health-plan\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-partner__image\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/07\/npr-hi-res-logo.png?w=500\" alt=\"Partner logo\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-partner__content\">\n\t\tThis story also ran on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/20\/nx-s1-5789099\/make-the-most-of-a-high-deductible-health-plan\">NPR<\/a>. It can be <a href=\"\/republish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228954\">republished for free<\/a>.\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-promo-container alignright is-style-classic\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2077259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=500,333 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=1270,847 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=120,80 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=834,556 834w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/HHH-Logo-v4-final-copy.jpg?resize=1668,1112 1668w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/figure><h3 id=\"headaches-over-the-health-system\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/health-care-helpline-share-your-story\/\">Headaches Over the Health System?<\/a><\/h3><p>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.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/health-care-helpline-share-your-story\/\">Share your story<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<\/aside>\n\n\n<p>A lot of people choose their health insurance the way they shop for a flight \u2014 sort by the lowest price and click \u201cbuy.\u201d But what looks like a bargain upfront can come with costly consequences later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After some federal financial aid expired, many Americans found that high-deductible health plans were the only option they could afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a new episode of NPR\u2019s <em>Life Kit<\/em> podcast, KFF Health News reporter Jackie Forti\u00e9r 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, for some people \u2014 especially those who rarely need medical care \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Across the country, people are choosing lower monthly premiums in exchange for higher out-of-pocket risk. Reporter Jackie Forti\u00e9r explains what the shift means for Americans\u2019 health and wallets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155412921,"featured_media":2077259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","hide_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"show_featured_image":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"subheading":"","tag":"","kff-is-frameless":false,"story_update":"","update_position":"","language":"","translation_parent":0,"translation_child":[],"search_keywords":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"shortlink":"","pre_footer_title":"","pre_footer_description":"","pre_footer_links":[],"funders_suppress":false,"funders_override_text":false,"funders_override_text_content":"","_use_transparent_header":false,"_header_mode":"light","kaiser_health_news_kicker":"Health Care Helpline","kaiser_health_news_kicker_url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/series\/health-care-helpline\/","kaiser_health_news_update_time":"","photo_byline":[],"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[439524256,12498],"tags":[439524403,14236611,4755,5535953],"funder":[],"series":[439530215],"podcast-series":[],"state":[],"content-types":[],"community-media":[],"partner":[439524320],"coauthors":[439529627],"class_list":["post-2228954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-care-costs","category-insurance","tag-audio","tag-high-deductible-plans","tag-multimedia","tag-out-of-pocket-costs","series-health-care-helpline","partner-npr"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_post_mime_type":"","apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Listen: Cheap Health Insurance Isn\u2019t Always Cheap - KFF Health News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Across the country, people are choosing lower monthly premiums in exchange for higher out-of-pocket risk. 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