Consumer Behaviors Among Individuals Enrolled in High-Deductible Health Plans in the United States

Abstract

Increasing enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs),¹ which have deductibles of at least $1300 for individuals or at least $2600 for families, is creating challenges for patients and providers, such as health care services that are needed but foregone² or received but uncompensated.³ To confront these challenges, patients enrolled in HDHPs are encouraged to be discerning health care consumers by saving for future services, using information about the price or quality of services, talking with providers about costs, or negotiating prices.^4,5 Our study examined the prevalence and reported results of these consumer behaviors among individuals enrolled in HDHPs in the United States.