To help you understand what is going on in the healthcare sector, rollbacks of Trump administration regulations for short-term health plans and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…
The Biden administration wants to curtail access to short-term health plans. A draft rule would limit the duration of such plans to four months and would prevent consumers from buying another short-term health insurance plan from the same carrier in the same calendar year. However, they could still purchase different short-term plans consecutively for up to 36 months.
This rule would essentially involve restoring several Obama-era regulations that were rolled back by the Trump administration. Under Trump, consumers were able to retain short-term plans for a year and renew them for up to three years.
Short-term plans are often cheaper than Obamacare-compliant ones and serve as a stopgap option for people who are between jobs or self-employed. But they also come with several drawbacks, such as excluding folks with preexisting conditions and denying claims after expensive medical treatment.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Nearly 265,000 people were enrolled in short-term health plans in 2022, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a 36.5% increase from the year before. Meanwhile, short-term premium revenue jumped 57.3%. Health insurers are known for aggressively marketing these plans to consumers.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Stories
- Employer Healthcare Costs to Rise, Survey Shows
- Healthcare Cost Basics: What They Are and Ways to Save
- Medical Credit Card Marketers Are Trying More Ways to Reach You
- Reasons Your Healthcare Costs Will Ease
- Best Healthcare ETFs to Buy Now
-
Kiplinger News Quiz, August 8, 2025News Quiz Tariffs, Apple and ESPN all made the headlines this week — but why? Test your knowledge of this week's financial and business news.
-
Nasdaq Ends the Week at a New High: Stock Market TodayThe S&P 500 came within a hair of a new high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average still has yet to hit a fresh peak in 2025.
-
Japan Tariffs: 5 Things That Might Get More Expensive for YouPresident Donald Trump's trade agreement with Japan features a 15% reciprocal tariff for all imported products, which could impact the prices of these items when you shop.
-
Big Changes Are Ahead for Higher EdThe Kiplinger Letter A major reform of higher ed is underway. Colleges are bracing for abrupt change, financial headwinds and uncertainty.
-
Trump Calls for Cane Sugar Coke: Will You Pay Higher Prices and Soda Tax?Food Taxes The debate over cane sugar vs. corn syrup is heating up, raising questions about cost, policy, and, in some cases, soda taxes.
-
Money for Your Kids? Three Ways Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Your Child's FinancesTax Tips The Trump tax bill could help your child with future education and homebuying costs. Here’s how.
-
Key 2025 Tax Changes for Parents in Trump's MegabillTax Changes Are you a parent? The so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ (OBBB) impacts several key tax incentives that can affect your family this year and beyond.
-
What New Tariffs Mean for Car ShoppersThe Kiplinger Letter Car deals are growing scarcer. Meanwhile, tax credits for EVs are on the way out, but tax breaks for car loans are coming.
-
What to Know About New Medicaid Cuts: Is Your Local Hospital Closing Soon?Tax Policy Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is now law, and rural hospitals across the U.S. are on the chopping block.
-
Should You Start a 'Trump Account' for Your Child?"Trump Accounts" for kids is part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill that was just signed. Look at if it's worth it for your children.
