Don't like high-deductible plans? Don't blame the ACA
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We've all heard about the high deductibles in many Affordable Care Act plans, but the trend always went way beyond the ACA — and now a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows us how much. This chart from the report, by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, shows how much employers have shifted toward high-deductible health plans since 2011.
Data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chart: Chris Canipe / Axios
Supporters of high-deductible plans say they make consumers more cost-conscious, but the report shows the toll they can take on people's finances and health. (Last year, they were defined as any plan with a deductible of at least $1,300 for individuals or $2,600 for families.)
People who had trouble paying their medical bills:
- Traditional health plans: 10.3 percent
- High-deductible health plans: 15.5 percent
People who put off medical care:
- Traditional health plans: 5.2 percent
- High-deductible health plans: 9.2 percent
