Poor Struggling to Pay High-Deductible Health Plans Forgo Care
High-deductible health plans have become popular for poorer families looking to save money on monthly premiums–the only problem is that the deductibles are so difficult to pay that care is often put off when needed. Based on the findings, which were revealed by a group of U.S. researchers, these types of plans may need to be revamped if they are to be successful in sparing health costs.
Poorer Families Not Getting Care They Need
The research team from the University of Pennsylvania surveyed people who are enrolled in Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a New England-based health insurance company. Based on their survey, they found that while lower-income families were just as likely to understand how their plans worked as their wealthier counterparts, they still could not afford to get treatment when the time came.
The plans were designed to help people save each month on their premiums, especially if they were not expected to pay their deductibles often. Unfortunately, when the time does come, most have not been able to pay their annual health deductibles, especially since they average at least $1,000 per person and $2,000 per family before most services are covered.
Team Recommends Value-Based Insurance Model
Since poorer families are paying coverage costs for care that they’re not actually getting access to thanks to high deductibles, the team suggested that health insurance plans consider a “value-based model.” This model would charge less for tests and treatments that offer high value (like screen tests) and less for tests and treatments that offer less benefit.
They believe that increasing value in health care by favoring models that decrease incentives for use of inappropriate care could help to promote the use of appropriate care in the field while giving all Americans access to the treatment they need when they need it–not just when they can afford it.
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