Karen Davis Quotes on Planning (3 Quotes)

High-deductible health plans, with or without health savings accounts, are being designed to try and control health care costs from the demand side, and they are really quite controversial at this point.

Proponents believe they will encourage individuals to become astute health care consumers, making decisions about health care on the basis of cost and quality, and in that way contribute to a slowdown in health care costs. Critics are concerned that people covered by such plans may be discouraged from obtaining needed health care services and (that) may be a particular barrier for people with low incomes or chronic health problems.

These findings provide evidence that high-deductible and consumer-driven plans may undermine the two basic purposes of health insurance to reduce financial barriers to needed care and protect against high out-of-pocket cost burdens for patients.