Trump eases red tape on bare-bones health insurance. What this means for you [View all]

Source: USA Today

Aug. 25, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET


With millions of people projected to lose health insurance over the next decade, President Donald Trump's administration appears ready to ease access to a potentially cheaper form of coverage.

The Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury departments said they'll relax enforcement of a Biden-era rule that limited the use of a type of bare-bones health insurance, known as short-term health insurance. The plans are typically cheaper, but often lack protections for consumers who buy their own health insurance.

Furthermore, the three departments expect to draft new rules to consider changes to these insurance plans.

What is short-term health insurance?

Short-term insurance plans often cost less than Affordable Care Act plans but come with a catch. Insurers that sell these plans don't offer all of the robust benefits of ACA plans. Also unlike ACA plans, insurers can deny or limit coverage based on a person's health status.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/25/trump-expand-short-term-health-insurance/85742442007/