HCCI’s research on consumer-directed health plans was recently used to support the first in a series of articles by the Los Angeles Times on high-deductible health plans.
From the article:
“The challenges are most severe for people with the highest deductibles, according to the poll: Nearly half of those in a plan with at least a $3,000 individual deductible or a $5,000 family deductible reported problems affording healthcare.
Even Americans with chronic conditions such as diabetes use less medical care if they have a high-deductible plan, according to an analysis conducted for The Times by the Health Care Cost Institute, which examined three years of insurance data for 10 million workers.
Other academic studies show patients with cancer, epilepsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other serious diseases also delay care or skimp on vital medications when they are required to pay more out of pocket. Doctors typically recommend patients with such conditions get regular care to control the disease and prevent complications.”