A new policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) looks at high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), in which the annual deductible is $1,300 for an individual and $2,600 for a family. An estimated 25 percent of Americans with employer-sponsored health coverage are enrolled in HDHPs, as compared to 4 percent a decade ago.
In the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces, almost 90 percent of individual plan enrollees select HDHPs. Some policymakers believe HDHPs could reduce health care spending, since consumers paying directly for their care will be more cognizant of costs. This brief examines early evidence that HDHPs have reduced spending and risks they pose for some consumers, who might avoid filling prescriptions and obtaining other necessary care because of costs.
About Health Policy Briefs
Health Policy Briefs are aimed at policymakers, congressional staffers, and others needing short, jargon-free explanations of health policy basics. The briefs, which are reviewed by experts in the field, include competing arguments on policy proposals and the relevant research supporting each perspective.
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from Health Affairs Blog http://ift.tt/1odkHcl
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