People can now get health insurance plans that last ten years

The US health department changed several rules for health insurance plans sold under the Affordable Care Act. This means insurers can offer some plans for much longer, and more people can get out of buying comprehensive insurance.

The ability to offer catastrophic plans for ten years gives insurers a new product to sell that locks in customers for a decade. It also means younger, healthier people can opt for long-term, lower-cost coverage, potentially shifting them out of the broader risk pool. This could make comprehensive plans more expensive for those who need them.