Most patients do not understand the details of preventive care cost-sharing exemptions in consumer-directed health plans, and because of this, patients often avoid seeking preventive care even when it is free or low-cost, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
The study details a survey of people whose consumer-directed health plans exempted routine physicals and preventive medical tests from their deductible. These individuals were Kaiser Permanente Northern California primary subscribers who were enrolled in a health savings account-eligible, high-deductible plan through their small-group employer throughout 2007. A specific set of preventive services was exempt from the deductible regardless of the patients' total medical spending.
Study authors found that of the 456 study respondents, 50 percent mistakenly reported that all office visits applied towards their deductible. Similarly, about 48 percent thought no medical tests were exempt from the deductible.
Some of the studies other major findings are as follows:
• Roughly 84 percent knew that their health plan included a deductible, and about 70 percent correctly reported the deductible amount (within a range 20 percent above or below the actual amount)
• In case of office visits, 18 percent of respondents understood the cost-sharing arrangement. For medical tests, 10 percent correctly understood the cost-sharing arrangement.
• Roughly 32 percent of respondents thought that neither preventive nor nonpreventive office visits were subject to the deductible, including those respondents who did not realize that they had any deductible at all. About 41 percent believed that neither preventive nor nonpreventive medical tests and screenings were subject to the deductible.
• About 19 percent of all respondents reported that they had delayed or avoided a preventive office visit because of its cost. Similarly, 19 percent said that cost concerns caused them to avoid at least one of the preventive tests or screenings.
According to study authors, education and consumer decision support will help remove cost barrier to preventive care.
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The study details a survey of people whose consumer-directed health plans exempted routine physicals and preventive medical tests from their deductible. These individuals were Kaiser Permanente Northern California primary subscribers who were enrolled in a health savings account-eligible, high-deductible plan through their small-group employer throughout 2007. A specific set of preventive services was exempt from the deductible regardless of the patients' total medical spending.
Study authors found that of the 456 study respondents, 50 percent mistakenly reported that all office visits applied towards their deductible. Similarly, about 48 percent thought no medical tests were exempt from the deductible.
Some of the studies other major findings are as follows:
• Roughly 84 percent knew that their health plan included a deductible, and about 70 percent correctly reported the deductible amount (within a range 20 percent above or below the actual amount)
• In case of office visits, 18 percent of respondents understood the cost-sharing arrangement. For medical tests, 10 percent correctly understood the cost-sharing arrangement.
• Roughly 32 percent of respondents thought that neither preventive nor nonpreventive office visits were subject to the deductible, including those respondents who did not realize that they had any deductible at all. About 41 percent believed that neither preventive nor nonpreventive medical tests and screenings were subject to the deductible.
• About 19 percent of all respondents reported that they had delayed or avoided a preventive office visit because of its cost. Similarly, 19 percent said that cost concerns caused them to avoid at least one of the preventive tests or screenings.
According to study authors, education and consumer decision support will help remove cost barrier to preventive care.
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