Dive Brief:
- Researchers at the University of Southern California report that although high-deductible health plans are associated with reduced healthcare spending, it isn't because the enrollees are price shopping for healthcare.
- The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests the enrollees are simply using less healthcare to avoid the higher costs that come with their plan.
- Most high-deductible plan enrollees are aware that price shopping for healthcare could help them find lower prices and better quality care, the authors say.
Dive Insight:
The lack of price shopping comes down to two issues, one perhaps more easily solved than the other. The main obstacles are continuity of care and convenience, Neeraj Sood, co-author of the study, told Reuters Health.
During their last use of medical care, high-deductible plan enrollees were no more likely than those in traditional plans to consider changing healthcare providers or comparing out-of-pocket costs between providers, the report finds.
"Simply increasing a deductible, which gives enrollees skin in the game, appears insufficient to facilitate price shopping," the study states.
The authors adds, however, enrollees showed interest in better access to price information. Sood also noted the ideal tool would include provider search results by location, a cost and quality comparison of those providers, and a link to book an appointment--much like tools for booking airline flights.