President Donald Trump’s interview with The New York Times generated plenty of headline-making comments. But his remarks on health insurance, the biggest topic of the week, suggested he didn’t know how it works or how much it costs.

He said:

“So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan.”

The notion of paying $12 a year for health insurance is even less than the $15 per month number Trump floated in an interview with the Economist earlier this year.

“Insurance is, you’re 20 years old, you just graduated from college, and you start paying $15 a month for the rest of your life and by the time you’re 70, and you really need it, you’re still paying the same amount and that’s really insurance,” he said in the May interview.

The average premium for a single person who gets health benefits from an employer last year was $536 a month, with employees paying an average of 18 percent of the cost while employers pick up the rest, according to data from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Education Trust.

Prices are different in the market for people who don’t get health benefits from an employer or a government program ― including those who purchase policies directly, through a broker or a health insurance exchange. For consumers in this health insurance market, the average monthly unsubsidized premium a mid-level “Silver” plan ranges from $364.91 for a 30-year-old to $872.01 for a 60-year-old, according to data compiled by HealthPocket.

All of those numbers, of course, are significantly higher than either figure suggested by the president. This prompted a number of observers to wonder if Trump was confusing health insurance with the life insurance ads that air in heavy rotation on cable news.

So Trump 100% thinks health insurance is life insurance https://t.co/vk8759ElDh — Chris Glenski (@chrisglenski) July 20, 2017

Does Donald Trump think that health insurance works like a 401k? Or life insurance? Or that anyone is paying $12/month for it? pic.twitter.com/X9NAHkL1f9 — Molly Lamping Fleck (@mollyfleck) July 20, 2017

Trump thinks insurance is like a 50 year fixed-rate mortgage, but your equity doesn't vest until you're old. Fuuuuck. https://t.co/XszjvfQSXf — Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) July 20, 2017

It seems Trump might think health insurance is the same as the "low monthly price" life insurance from TV ads... https://t.co/lTBiT7EEbz — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 20, 2017

Trump on health insurance... When you're 20, you pay $15/month. When you're 21, you pay $12/yr. Don't get sick. Then at 70, presto.



Wut o.O pic.twitter.com/e1VUXWIOus — Mad Hatter (@lyssophobic) July 20, 2017

Trump says ppl pay $12/mo starting at 21 & have great plan by time hit 70.



Does he think health insurance builds up value like whole life? — Ian McCellan (@IanMcCellan) July 20, 2017

Holy crap, Trump thinks health insurance is life insurance.https://t.co/WegOZyPr3v pic.twitter.com/30RqJD6DDQ — Brian (@zonaindie2) July 20, 2017

trump thinks health insurance is the same as life insurance… https://t.co/1eHmBm6mZV — Amy Hoy (@amyhoy) July 20, 2017

Even when Reagan was senile, I think he knew the difference between life insurance and health insurance. I don't think Trump does. — Micke S (@fawlty) July 20, 2017

it's not...super clear to me...that Donald Trump knows what insurance is. pic.twitter.com/u7xsIcfjNn — Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) July 20, 2017

It seems like an under-reported fact that @realDonaldTrump thinks health insurance operates like life insurance. But nothing matters anymore — Accidental Dread (@AccidentalDread) July 20, 2017

This article has been updated with additional data on average health insurance costs. Jeffrey Young contributed reporting.