Lower Health Insurance Premiums Sound Like Great News – But It ’s Only Part Of the Story

By A. MARK FENDRICK, MD It’s great news to read headlines that the average health-insurance premium will drop by 4% next year in the 38 states using federal Obamacare exchanges. As millions of Americans entered open enrollment this year to choose their health insurance plans, it is important to remember that premiums are only one of the ways that we pay for our medical coverage.  In many plans lower premiums (paid by everyone) often mean a higher deductible — or paying more out-of-pocket before insurance coverage kicks in. This burden is paid only by those who use medical care services. Deductibles are rising, and so is the number of Americans enrolled in so-called high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Thus, more people with health insurance are being asked to pay full price for all their care, regardless of its clinical value. Although it may be better for many people with significant medical needs (and less disposable income) to avoid plans with high deductibles, more and more people who receive health insurance through their employer no longer have a choice except to choose a plan with hefty costs in addition to premiums. The Blunt Instrument  Nearly half — 43 percent of adults — who get health insurance through their jobs have a high-deductible plan, which requires them to spend between $1,300 (individual) and $2,600 (for a family) before their insurance starts covering their care. These numbers should raise co...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Policy Value-Based Care Health insurance health insurance premiums Open Enrollment VBID Source Type: blogs