Health Affairs, 27, no. 3 (2008): w214-w221 (Published online 15 April 2008) doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.w214 © 2008 by Project HOPE	New Online   New Issue: China & India   Obesity In China   Pay Cuts For Medicare Docs   Access To Care Woes

This Article Figures Only Full Text (HTML) Reprint (PDF) Online Appendices Erratum Submit a response to this article View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Jacobs, P. D. Articles by Claxton, G. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jacobs, P. D. Articles by Claxton, G. Related Collections Insurance Market Access To Care Business Of Health Consumer Issues Health Reform Insurance Coverage Managed Care - Consumers Health Spending

Web Exclusives

MARKETWATCH

Comparing The Assets Of Uninsured Households To Cost Sharing Under High-Deductible Health Plans

Financial assets are relevant when one is assessing whether high-deductible plans, which require greater up-front cost sharing, are worthwhile for the uninsured. We show that uninsured households have less financial assets compared to the insured; at lower income levels, their net financial assets may even be negative. Although lower premiums may increase the ability of the uninsured to buy some coverage, high out-of-pocket liability may leave families exposed to costs that they cannot meet. Paying premiums for a policy that exposes the uninsured to unaffordable medical bills may be viewed as an uneconomical use of their limited assets.

                      What's this?

eLetters: