The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch

[dalton99a]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cheap-health-insurance-promoted-trump-170956826.html

The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch
Peter Whoriskey | Washington Post
Sat, November 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM CST

Robert Hays, an industrial electronics salesman in Arkansas, thought he’d purchased conventional medical insurance. So did Essie Nath, 67, a retired cafeteria worker in Wyoming. So did Martin Liz, 47, a Key West chef.

Each enrolled in the kind of private health insurance that Trump administration officials have promoted as an alternative to plans sold under Obamacare.

The difference between the two options became all too clear after Hays, Nath and Liz required surgery: Their cheaper policies left them facing bills of tens of thousands of dollars. Hays is facing bills of $116,000 for neck surgery required after tweaking his neck while lifting weights; Nath had heart failure and got bills of $82,000; Liz is stuck with bills of more than $100,000 for a knee replacement.

“These policies are a horrible idea,” said Ken Swindle, an Arkansas-based attorney for Hays. “People think they’re getting comprehensive medical coverage, but they’re not, and they often don’t realize that until it’s too late.”

...

[dickthegrouch]

1. Fradulent?

Nooooooooooo!
Who'd have guessed?

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. I'm chuckling over a lawyer named "Swindle".

Years ago, there was a surgeon at the local hospital named Dr. Slaughter.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Member of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe?

[TommyT139]

5. There was a time when you could look up in Harvard Sq

...and you could see where their office was, by the modest-sized gold text in a third floor window.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. Maybe he is.

And perhaps Dr. Slaughter was a client. I saw "was" because Dr. Slaughter died years ago.

[Grammy23]

15. Not kidding here but my radiation oncologist ....

Was named Dr. Cook. No lie. And yowzer did I get cooked?! But I’m alive 35 years later so I guess it worked. 😉

[greatauntoftriplets]

24. You were well cooked if you're alive to tell the story 35 years later.

My sister just completed radiation treatments last Tuesday following surgery for uterine cancer. Before starting treatments, she was told that radiation is a lot easier on the system than it once was. Even so, there were some side effects.

[Dale in Laurel MD]

27. I was treated about 6 years ago for prostate cancer.

I had external proton beam radiation, almost no side effects. (And so far I'm still cancer-free.)

[Hope22]

31. Fantastic!

💗👍

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. Congratulations!

I'm so happy that it worked for you.

[summer_in_TX]

39. A friend who was a lifelong smoker got lung cancer.

Radiation was the treatment. But she kept cooking inside long after it stopped.

It was a horrendous way to die.

I am very glad to hear that it actually worked for you. I don't know what went wrong in her case.

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. How awful.

I'm so sorry about your friend.

[summer_in_TX]

42. Thank you.

Agonizing.

[pat_k]

41. I've had a few doctors with fitting names.

These come to mind, but I think there was another that was great, but I can't recall it.

Dr. Goodman - pediatrician
Dr. Hertz -- oral surgeon.
Dr. Grimm - orthopedic

[rampartd]

49. dr howard dr fine dr howard!

[Permanut]

22. We had an xray specialist named Semour.

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. And I guess that he did see more.

[3catwoman3]

26. Oh, man, I would change my name.

When I was in nursing school, one of the attending urologists was Dr. Cockett -

[greatauntoftriplets]

35. Dr. Cockett is a great name for a urologist.

I assume that Dr. Slaughter got razzed about his name. No one I knew ever went to him, though. He was a legend...of sorts.

[Emrys]

29. There's a firm of solicitors in the Glasgow area called Bilkus & Boyle:

Also spare a thought for the unfortunate partner Gascoigne of Home Counties estate agents Gascoigne-Pees:




And a final nominative determinist shoutout to the firm Owen Pugh, which rents out portable toilets:

https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/owen-pugh-toilet-hire-glasgow

[greatauntoftriplets]

36. OMG, those are priceless.

If my surname was Pees, I would change it to avoid having people laugh in my face.

[3catwoman3]

37. While I was stationed in Japan, a good friend of mine was in the base protocol...

...office. His last name was Penix. My own last name is Ball. Altho he was a really great guy, I never wanted to date him because I didn't want to run the risk of us falling in love and wanting to marry. My last name was problem enough, and I wouldn't have wanted to change it to his, and I certainly couldn't have hyphenated the 2 names.

[greatauntoftriplets]

38. Ball isn't bad, but Penix would inevitably be spelled the other way at times.

You definitely wouldn't want to hyphenate those two names.

[3catwoman3]

48. No, indeed. My friend and I were both involved in the air base's amateur t

…club, as both performers and dancers, and we worked together to choreograph numbers for one of the club’s presentations. The cast very much had fun with bandying about “On stage with Penix and Ball.”

Were that my last name, I would at the very least add an H and make it Phoenix, if not just change it altogether.

Ball was the subject of many athletic jokes, like, “How’s your brother, Basket,” and the like. In 7th grade, I used to get greeted every morning in homeroom by a classmate who would leer at me and say, “Hi, Ball. How’re they hangin’?” His buddies would laugh their asses off at his adolescent cleverness.

One morning, when I’d had enough and after much mental rehearsal so I knew I could pull it off, I glared at him and said, “Fine, thanks. How are yours?” His buddies laughed even harder, and he never said it again.

It was a moment of triumph I still enjoy some 55 years later.

[Shrek]

45. Chiropractor Alan Bonebrake

https://ttapscenter.com/

[Conjuay]

47. For years Orlando had a prostectic company

called 'Amputee and Brace ',
located on Gore Avenue.

[sakabatou]

4. Just like everything Dump promotes, it's crap

[progree]

6. These are "short term plans" that DJT extended to 3 years in his first admin

Unlike most insurance, these plans are not required to cover preexisting conditions or even basic needs such as maternity care and mental health. Their coverage is so full of holes that five states have banned their sale, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. Even some major insurers have questioned whether relying on the short-term plans is a good idea, warning that many consumers could mistake them for comprehensive coverage. The Biden administration referred to them as “junk” plans. . . . In addition to the five states that have banned them — including California and New York — nine states have rules so prohibitive that no short-term plans are offered . . .

Short-term plans, which were previously limited to a duration of four months, were vastly expanded in 2018 by the Trump administration, which saw them as an alternative to ACA plans, which they opposed. To make the short-term plans more accessible, the Trump administration ruled that a short-term policy could last as long as three years.

. . . Incentivized by larger sales bonuses, brokers were using deceptive marketing materials to sell short-term policies, the report said.

Last year, debate erupted again when the Biden administration reversed the Trump rule and restored the four-month limit on the policies.

This year, though, the Trump administration announced it was again coming up with its own definition of “short-term” and would not prioritize enforcement of the Biden-era rule.

Many examples in the article about the insurance companies claiming "pre-existing conditions" (which aren't covered by these plans) after expensive surgeries

[Midnight Writer]

7. The original ACA set minimum standards for participating insurers. The Republicans did away with that.

Now insurers can sell you an essentially worthless policy, often paid for by taxpayer subsidies.

In other words, Republicans fought for "the right" of insurers to rip off their customers.

Ripping off consumers and working folk is a good thing, according to Republican policymakers.

[progree]

8. ACA plans still have the same minimum standards as the original. The short-term plans of the subject article

are not sold on the healthcare.gov ACA exchange, nor on state ACA ones like Covered California and MNSure. Similarly Association Health Plans (AHP's), whose requirements were loosened, are not sold on ACA exchanges.

Neither are Health sharing plans, also known as medical cost sharing. These, are community-based, non-profit alternatives to traditional health insurance where members pool funds to help cover each other's medical expenses. These plans operate based on shared values or beliefs, and are often faith-based, such as Healthcare Sharing Ministry plans. They are not insurance and they suck when a member's care gets expensive.

[Hope22]

10. No different than the people who continue to purchase Medicare Advantage policies

Which make them ineligible for Medicare programs should health issues arise. All you can do is warn them.

[progree]

17. M.A. people can still switch to traditional Medicare, i.e. parts A and B

but both those have limitations, for example only 80% of Part B expenses are covered. The uncovered 20% can get to be a very big number for some medical conditions.

One can purchase Medicare Supplement plans, also known as Medigap (NOT to be confused with Medicare Advantage), to fill in the uncovered costs and even reduce or eliminate the deductibles of traditonal Medicare. I have one such. But the good ones are expensive. All told, I'm paying $185 for part B + $320 Medicare Supplement + $40 Part D drug plan = $545/month.

Some people think Medicare is free or nominal cost. It is not.

Switching to a Medicare Supplement plan from a Medicare Advantage plan, or adding a Supplement plan when one has had only traditional Medicare can be subject to a medical exam and acceptance by the insurer, known as underwriting (Medicare Supplement plans are private insurance). One is free from this requirement only if they sign up for the Supplement plan within a 6 month window or something like that from when first getting on Medicare. There's also some one-year leeway IIRC for Medicare Advantage people trying to switch to a Supplement plan (i.e. you can try Advantage for one year or less), I forget the details of that.

Part A (Hospital Insurance) is free for most people (actually they paid in during their working lives through FICA payroll taxes). But those who don't have a full 40 quarters of lifetime covered earnings have to pay a big premium for Part A.

[Hope22]

23. Sounds good for those in MA.

In addition to what you have pointed out small business owners and self employed pay double into Medicare and Social Security. I never heard of the trial period for Medicare Advantage which is not affiliated with Medicare. It used to be if Medicare Advantage was chosen there was no going back.

[progree]

28. Medicare Advantage is also known as Medicare Part C.

https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2026&lang=en

Next, select the type of plan you want:
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
Medicare drug plan (Part D)
Medigap policy

It was that way when I first shopped for Medicare back in 2016 or thereabouts, so it's not a Krasnov thing.

That Medicare Advantage is not Medicare or not affiliated with Medicare is an ideological statement, not fact.

. It used to be if Medicare Advantage was chosen there was no going back.

Sorry, never was true.

Just to be clear, I think Advantage sucks (from what I read, I've never been on it) - too many denials, pre-approval requirements, must stick to networks, and if the anasthesiest or physician assistant, for example, is not in the network (even if the hospital and surgeon are), then one has to pay those out-of-network peoples' bills.

Here's some info on how one can still get a Supplement plan after being on Advantage without medical underwriting (the one year thing)

=====================================================
https://cahealthadvocates.org/medicare-advantage/when-you-have-guaranteed-issue-rights-to-switch-from-a-medicare-advantage-plan-to-a-medigap-policy

When You Have Guaranteed-Issue Rights to Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to a Medigap Policy

If you are in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you have guaranteed-issue rights to buy a Medigap policy in certain situations. These rights require private insurers to sell you a policy without a health screening. You cannot be denied a policy or charged a higher premium due to your current health or history.

You have guaranteed-issue rights to a Medigap policy when:

Your Medicare Advantage (MA) plan terminates coverage. In this case, you can return to Original fee-for-service Medicare with Medigap, but you must apply within 123 days of the end of your MA plan benefits.

You move outside your MA plan service area. You must apply within 63 days of moving.

You joined an MA plan when you first became eligible for Medicare and want to switch to a Medigap policy during your first 12 months in the MA plan. This is your Medicare Trial Period #1.

You switch from a Medigap policy to an MA plan for the first time since becoming eligible for Medicare, and you disenroll from the MA plan within the first 12 months. This is your Medicare Trial Period #2.

[Fil1957]

11. At 67, why wasn't Nath on Medicare?

[Ilsa]

13. Maybe his $82k bill was his 20% that Medicare

doesn't pay. Heart surgery can be pretty pricey.

[llmart]

14. Maybe she's 67 now but her illness or surgery happened a few years ago.

That's the only thing I could come up with.

[dalton99a]

33. +1. Her lawsuit was filed in 2023

[Intractable]

12. Live by the Trump, die by the Trump.

Who is going to buy Trump-recommended policies? Mostly, it would be Trump supporters. The others would be unfortunate souls who were tricked into it out of desperation.

[llmart]

16. This old adage comes to mind.

"If it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't."

[DET]

18. Caveat Emptor

I can’t understand how you could buy an insurance policy without reading the specifics of the policy in writing. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Dishonest insurers will always try to find loopholes to deny a claim, but you really need to understand the basics of your plan before you sign up.

[dflprincess]

19. Michael Moore brought up these shirts of policies

In his film "Sicko" in 2007. I thought tge ACA outlawed them.

[damifino10]

20. Deception

Are the sales reps. being complicit these policy's? Trump skates no matter what but these folks selling these policy's
make a used car salesman look golden. There are so many sales persons peddling marginal products it is
sickening. If the top CON can get away with it, why can't I says the lower CON?

[Wiz Imp]

21. I thought these kinds of policies were made illegal by the ACA.

I didn't realize Trump had changed that in his first term. They absolutely should be illegal

[progree]

32. It's my understanding that they've always been legal, but were limited to 3 months

Just one of those things they couldn't get rid of.

the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the individual mandate penalty, which increased the use of short-term plans as an alternative to ACA plans.

The Trump administration expanded short-term plans, allowing them to be sold for up to 364 days and renewed for up to three years. Biden changed it back to 3 months.

[Mark.b2]

30. I wonder how closely these chumps read their policies...

I’m wanting to retire next year at 56 or 57, and I want a high-deductible ($10k-$15k) policy. Basically, I just want catostrophic coverage. I am now able to find these types of plans, but you have to read the plans.

My guess is these three liked the low premiums and were prepared for the high deductibles didnt take the time to read their coverage plans. It would have been nice if the article had more info.

These catostrophic plans can be the right coverage for certain people.

[pat_k]

43. Goes right along with the regime's approach to any consumer protection.

Deceptive disclosures. endless "small print," hard sells, on and on, that ruin peoples lives are all good with the felon's regime, regardless of how central central a product is in consumer's life. Hey' it was there in the contract wasn't it?

We are on our own in a jungle of increasingly damaging and predatory businesses, with health care and the fourth estate topping the list "changing business models" that are directly causing enormous harms.

In the general scheme of things with the regime, consumer protection is a dirty word. AFAIK, the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have essentially stopped all the work those agencies were doing before Jan 20, 2025. As acting Director of CFPB Vought tried to fire 90% of the people but was blocked by a court. Still fired a bunch. He also refused to the funding draw and ordered everyone to not just stop investigations and enforcement actions, but actually reversed actions.

I'm less up on what's happened at FTC CPB, but I have no doubt they aren't doing much protecting of anyone. For example, came across these tidbits from the felon's appointed director:

In contrast to the view of the FTC under Khan, Mufarrige recognized that the sharing of information on the Internet benefits consumers and allows much of the free content that consumers enjoy.

Mufarrige noted that the goal of the Trump administration is to promote economic growth through AI and not to strangle it with regulation.

But, back to our insane health care system. Medical care is not a fucking commodity! You need what you need when you need it. "Market forces" have no place. NONE whatsoever.

And our 100% Fee for Service model is even crazier.

Arrrgghh. I'll stop there.

[GoodRaisin]

44. That is exactly what I would expect to get from Krasnov.

[IcyPeas]

46. For-Profit-Healthcare...... think about that phrase.

The whole industry is a scam.

Health insurance lobbyists... politicians... making money off sick people.