New Health Plan Faulted

[MountainLaurel]

Americans in new "consumer-directed" health plans are less satisfied with them and more likely to delay or forgo care than people with regular insurance, says a new survey that could raise red flags for insurers and employers.

The plans, which combine high-deductible health insurance with tax-exempt savings accounts, have been promoted to employers as a way to control health care costs and make people savvier consumers of medical services.

But it also underscores questions about whether skimping on care by members will backfire, requiring more costly treatment down the road.

"You have the potential ... to impose a cost consciousness with a neutral or positive result, and also the potential for harm," said Robert Crane, senior vice president, research and policy development, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc.

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-healthplan1209.artdec09,0,1743192.story?coll=hc-headlines-business

[Denver Dave]

1. HSA - must have health insurance first !

I think what we are talking about are Health Savings Accounts (HSA) which seem backwards to me in concept. In order to have a tax exempt HSA and save for health care costs, we have to have health care insurance first. The people that need to have HSA benefits the most are those without medical insurance and they do not qualify - go figure.

Let's call HSAs what they are - a possible strategy for people with health insurance to sock more money away tax free. May help those with money, does nothing to help people that can not afford health insurance.

If interested in health care funding and policy discussions, I invite you to visit www.HCTalk.com