Enrollment in High-deductible Health Plans Among People Younger Than Age 65 With Private Health Insurance: United States, 2019-2023.

This report provides a comprehensive look at enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHP), including consumer-directed health plans (CDHP) among privately insured people younger than age 65. Data from the 2019 through 2023 National Health Interview Survey were used to examine enrollment in HDHPs and CDHPs among people younger than age 65 with private health insurance. CDHPs are HDHPs with an associated health savings account or health reimbursement account. All estimates are presented by sex, age group, race and Hispanic origin, family income, family educational attainment, level of urbanization, and source of private coverage. In 2023, among privately insured people younger than age 65, 41.7% were enrolled in an HDHP. Enrollment increased from 40.3% in 2019 to 43.3% in 2021, followed by a decrease to 41.7% in 2023. Among people with employment-based coverage, enrollment in an HDHP increased from 40.2% in 2019 to 43.4% in 2021, followed by a decrease to 41.9% in 2023. For people with directly purchased coverage, enrollment in an HDHP increased from 44.3% in 2019 to 47.0% in 2020, followed by a decrease to 43.1% in 2023. Generally, White non-Hispanic people were the most likely to be enrolled in an HDHP. Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic people were the least likely to be enrolled in an HDHP. Enrollment in an HDHP increased with family income and family educational attainment. In 2023, 19.5% of people younger than age 65 with private health insurance were enrolled in a CDHP. Enrollment characteristics of people with CDHPs mirrored those of people with HDHPs overall. However, children were more likely to be enrolled in an CDHP plan than adults ages 18-64. People with employment-based coverage were nearly four times more likely to be enrolled in a CDHP than their counterparts with directly purchased coverage.

To examine the associations among high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment, cancer survivorship, and access to care and utilization. The 2010 to 2017 National Health Interview Survey was used to identify privately insured adults ages 18 to 64 years (cancer survivors, n = 4,321; individuals without a cancer history, n = 95,316). We used multivariable logistic regressions to evaluate the associations among HDHP/health savings account (HSA) status, delayed/forgone care for financial reasons, and hospital emergency department (ED) visits among cancer survivors compared with individuals without a cancer history. Among cancer survivors, HDHPs with or without HSA (8.9% and 13.9%, respectively; both P < .05) were associated with more delayed/forgone care compared with low-deductible health plans (LDHPs) (7.9%). HSA enrollment was associated with less delayed/forgone care among HDHP cancer survivors (P < .05). ED visits were similar by insurance type. Among individuals without a cancer history, HDHP with or without HSA (9.5% and 10.8%, respectively; both P < .05) were both associated with more delayed/forgone care compared with LDHPs (5.9%). HSA enrollment also was associated with less delayed/forgone care among HDHP enrollees without a cancer history. A small difference in ED visits was observed between HDHPs without HSA (15.3%) and LDHPs (14.1%; P < .05) or HDHPs with HSA (13.4%; P < .05) among individuals without a cancer history. HDHP enrollment and HSA status affect access to care and hospital ED visits similarly by cancer history. HDHP enrollment may serve as a barrier to access to care among cancer survivors, although HSA enrollment coupled with an HDHP may mitigate the impact on access. HDHPs and HSA status were not associated with ED visits among cancer survivors. Improvement to care coordination efforts may be needed to reduce ED visits among privately insured cancer survivors.

IMPACT: With a growing number of Americans enrolled in high-deductible health plans, patients, especially those with chronic conditions, face increasing cost-sharing burden. We aim to develop a novel behavioral intervention to help patients use consumer strategies to better manage their health care spending. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To assess patient preferences to develop an intervention to encourage the use of cost-conscious strategies to manage out-of-pocket health care spending among high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollees with chronic conditions. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This mixed-methods study is first conducting semi-structured telephone interviews of up to 20 adults with one or more chronic conditions who are enrolled in an HDHP. Preliminary findings from these interviews are being used to inform the design of a national internet panel survey of at least 300 HDHP enrollees. Collectively, the interviews and survey will assess experiences of HDHP enrollees and their preferences for the content, design, format, and mode of an intervention to help them engage in cost-conscious health care behaviors. These findings will then be used to develop a novel behavioral intervention that will subsequently be pilot tested for acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Early interview data identified gaps in knowledge of health care consumer strategies among HDHP enrollees with low confidence in being able to engage in cost-conscious health care behaviors. Several participants indicated interest in an intervention to learn more about how to engage in cost-conscious strategies (e.g., putting aside money for anticipated health care expenses, comparing cost and quality for services at different places, and talking to providers about health care costs). Most early interview participants preferred an easily accessible technological intervention, such as a website or app. Interviews are continuing, and the national survey will be fielded in early 2021. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: HDHP enrollees with chronic conditions could benefit from an intervention that helps them manage their high cost-sharing. Based on the results of interviews and a national survey, we will develop and pilot test a novel behavioral intervention to promote use of cost-conscious health care behaviors.

PurposeTo determine whether negative associations between enrollment in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and one exemplar unhealthy behavior – daily smoking – are found only among people who chose these plans.DesignCross-sectional analysis of nationally-representative data.SettingUnited States from 2007 to 2008.Subjects6,941 privately insured non-elderly adult participants in the 2007 Health Tracking Household Survey.MeasuresSelf-reported smoking status.AnalysisWe classified subjects as HDHP or traditional health plan enrollees with employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) and no choice of plans, ESI with a choice of plans, or coverage through the non-group market. We used multivariate logistic regression to measure associations between HDHP enrollment and daily smoking within each of the 3 coverage source groups while controlling for potential confounders.ResultsHDHP enrollment was associated with lower odds of smoking among individuals with ESI and a choice of plans (AOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33–0.90) and those with non-group coverage (AOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.34–1.22), though the latter association was not statistically significant. HDHP enrollment was not associated with lower odds of smoking among individuals with ESI and no choice of plans (AOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.69–1.56).ConclusionsHDHP enrollment is associated with lower odds of smoking only among individuals who chose to enroll in an HDHP. Lower rates of unhealthy behaviors among HDHP enrollees may be a reflection of individuals who choose these plans.

Most people with commercial health insurance in the US have high-deductible plans, but the association of such plans with major health outcomes is unknown. To describe the association between enrollment in high-deductible health plans and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This cohort study examined matched groups before and after an insurance design change. Data were from a large national commercial (and Medicare Advantage) health insurance claims data set that included members enrolled between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2014. The study group included 156 962 individuals with risk factors for cardiovascular disease who were continuously enrolled in low-deductible (≤$500) health plans during a baseline year followed by up to 4 years in high-deductible (≥$1000) plans with typical value-based features after an employer-mandated switch. The matched control group included 1 467 758 individuals with the same risk factors who were contemporaneously enrolled in low-deductible plans. Data were analyzed from December 2017 to March 2020. Employer-mandated transition to a high-deductible health plan. Time to first major adverse cardiovascular event defined as myocardial infarction or stroke. The study group included 156 962 individuals and the control group included 1 467 758 individuals; the mean age of members was 53 years (SD: high-deductible group, 6.7 years; control group, 6.9 years), 47% were female, and approximately 48% lived in low-income neighborhoods. First major adverse cardiovascular events among high-deductible health plan members did not differ relative to controls at follow-up vs baseline (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89-1.13). Findings were similar among subgroups with diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.75-1.16) and with other cardiovascular risk factors (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.81-1.07). Mandated enrollment in high-deductible health plans with typical value-based features was not associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

This study aimed to determine if high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment contributes to financial burden and hinders access to care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Patients diagnosed with MM from 2010 to 2020 were identified in Merative MarketScan, an employer-based health insurance database. Primary outcomes were total health care and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs in the year after diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included time to treatment initiation and stem-cell transplant receipt. Multivariable analyses using linear, logistic, and Cox regression were performed, as appropriate. Covariates included age, sex, year diagnosed, comorbidities, data provider, and stem-cell transplant receipt. The cohort included 4,029 patients; 17.6% were enrolled on HDHPs. HDHP enrollees were younger (mean age, 54.9 v 55.5 years; P = .036). Over the first year, mean total and OOP costs were $406,401 in US dollars (USD) and $9,220 USD for HDHP enrollees, respectively, versus $386,802 USD (P = .027) and $7,021 USD (P < .001) for the standard plan enrollees. There was no statistically significant difference in total cost (β = 11; P = .999) but mean OOP costs were $2,544 USD (β = 2,544; P < .001) higher for HDHP enrollees after adjusting for covariates. The additional OOP costs incurred in the first 2 months, presumably because of deductibles, and after the deductible reset. Contrary to our hypothesis, HDHPs enrollees had shorter time to treatment initiation (median, 20 v 22 days; hazard ratio, 1.18; P < .001) and were more likely to receive a stem-cell transplant (55.1% v 47.6%; odds ratio, 1.25; P = .010), after adjusting for covariates. Compared with standard plan enrollees, OOP costs were higher for HDHP enrollees in the year after diagnosis, but HDHP enrollment was not associated with delays in treatment initiation or reduced access to stem-cell transplant.

This report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) presents selected estimates of health insurance coverage for the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population based on data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), along with comparable estimates from the 2010–2014 NHIS. Estimates for 2015 are based on data for 103,798 persons. Three estimates of lack of health insurance coverage are provided: (a) uninsured at the time of interview, (b) uninsured at least part of the year prior to interview (which includes persons uninsured for more than a year), and (c) uninsured for more than a year at the time of interview. Estimates of public and private coverage, coverage through exchanges, and enrollment in highdeductible health plans (HDHPs) and consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) are also presented. Detailed tables show estimates by selected demographics. Definitions are provided in the Technical Notes at the end of this report. This report is updated quarterly and is part of the NHIS Early Release (ER) Program, which releases updated selected estimates that are available from the NHIS website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. Estimates for each calendar quarter, by selected demographics, are also available as a separate set of tables through the ER Program. For more information about NHIS and the ER Program, see the Technical Notes and the Additional Early Release Program Products sections at the end of this report.

In recent years, 2 circumstances changed provider-patient interactions in primary care: the substitution of virtual (eg, video) for in-person visits and the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied whether access to care might affect patient fulfillment of ancillary services orders for ambulatory diagnosis and management of incident neck or back pain (NBP) and incident urinary tract infection (UTI) for virtual versus in-person visits. Data were extracted from the electronic health records of 3 Kaiser Permanente Regions to identify incident NBP and UTI visits from January 2016 through June 2021. Visit modes were classified as virtual (Internet-mediated synchronous chats, telephone visits, or video visits) or in-person. Periods were classified as prepandemic [before the beginning of the national emergency (April 2020)] or recovery (after June 2020). Percentages of patient fulfillment of ancillary services orders were measured for 5 service classes each for NBP and UTI. Differences in percentages of fulfillments were compared between modes within periods and between periods within the mode to assess the possible impact of 3 moderators: distance from residence to primary care clinic, high deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment, and prior use of a mail-order pharmacy program. For diagnostic radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy services, percentages of fulfilled orders were generally >70-80%. Given an incident NBP or UTI visit, longer distance to the clinic and higher cost-sharing due to HDHP enrollment did not significantly suppress patients' fulfillment of ancillary services orders. Prior use of mail-order prescriptions significantly promoted medication order fulfillments on virtual NBP visits compared with in-person NBP visits in the prepandemic period (5.9% vs. 2.0%, P=0.01) and in the recovery period (5.2% vs. 1.6%, P=0.02). Distance to the clinic or HDHP enrollment had minimal impact on the fulfillment of diagnostic or prescribed medication services associated with incident NBP or UTI visits delivered virtually or in-person; however, prior use of mail-order pharmacy option promoted fulfillment of prescribed medication orders associated with NBP visits.

The financial burden of a cancer diagnosis is increasing rapidly with advances in cancer care. Simultaneously, more individuals are enrolling in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) vs traditional insurance than ever before. To characterize the out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs) of cancer care for individuals in HDHPs vs traditional insurance plans. This retrospective cohort study used the administrative claims data of a single national insurer in the US for 134 826 patients aged 18 to 63 years with a new diagnosis of breast, colorectal, lung, or other cancer from 2008 to 2018 with 24 months or more of continuous enrollment. Propensity score matching was performed to create comparator groups based on the presence or absence of an incident cancer diagnosis. A new cancer diagnosis and enrollment in an HDHP vs a traditional health insurance plan. The primary outcome was OOPCs among individuals with breast, colon, lung, or all other types of cancer combined compared with those with no cancer diagnosis. A triple difference-in-differences analysis was performed to identify incremental OOPCs based on cancer diagnosis and enrollment in HDHPs vs traditional plans. After propensity score matching, 134 826 patients remained in each of the cancer (73 572 women [55%]; median age, 53 years [IQR, 46-58 years]; 110 071 non-Hispanic White individuals [82%]) and noncancer (66 619 women [49%]; median age, 53 years [IQR, 46-59 years]; 105 023 non-Hispanic White individuals [78%]) cohorts. Compared with baseline costs of medical care among individuals without cancer, a breast cancer diagnosis was associated with the highest incremental OOPC ($714.68; 95% CI, $664.91-$764.45), followed by lung ($475.51; 95% CI, $340.16-$610.86), colorectal ($361.41; 95% CI, $294.34-$428.48), and all other types of cancer combined ($90.51; 95% CI, $74.22-$106.79). Based on the triple difference-in-differences analysis, compared with patients without cancer enrolled in HDHPs, those with breast cancer paid $1683.36 in additional yearly OOPCs (95% CI, $1576.66-$1790.07), those with colorectal cancer paid $1420.06 more (95% CI, $1232.31-$1607.80), those with lung cancer paid $467.25 more (95% CI, $130.13-$804.37), and those with other types of cancer paid $550.87 more (95% CI, $514.75-$586.99). Patients with cancer and private insurance experienced sharp increases in OOPCs compared with those without cancer, which was amplified among those with HDHPs. These findings illustrate the degree to which HDHPs offer poorer protection than traditional insurance against unexpected health care expenses. Coupled with the increasing cost of cancer care, higher cost sharing in the form of increasing enrollment in HDHPs requires further research on the potential clinical consequences through delayed or foregone care.

To study whether the negative association between enrollment in high-deductible plans and health care utilization is driven by reverse moral hazard or favorable selection, by examining adults with and without a choice of plans. 2011-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component data on nonelderly adults enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance. Four types of plans were examined: high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs), low-deductible health plans (LDHPs), and no-deductible health plans (NDHPs). Multivariate logistic regressions of various measures of health care utilization were conducted to estimate the differences in utilization across plan types among those who had a choice of plans and those who did not. Among adults with a choice of plans, HDHP enrollees had lower levels of utilization compared with those of the NDHP enrollees for any ambulatory visit, any specialist visit, and most preventive services. Among adults without any choice of plans, the differences between HDHP enrollees and NDHP enrollees were not statistically significant. The differences between those with and without choice of plans in the relationship between HDHP enrollment and health care utilization might possibly be explained by favorable selection.

To examine the association between enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and asthma controller medication use and exacerbations.A longitudinal cohort of children (4–17 years old) and adults (18–64 years old) on employer-sponsored insurance, who had at least 24 months of continuous insurance enrollment.Identified from a national administrative claims database in the United States, patients with persistent asthma were selected, and their insurance was categorized as a HDHP, defined as an annual individual deductible of ≥$1000, or a traditional plan, with deductibles of $0–500. Enrollees in a HDHP were only those who switched from a traditional plan after 12 months to a HDHP for the following 12 months. A differences-in-differences analyses design was used to compare outcomes between patients who switched to a HDHP to that of controls, who remained in a traditional plan for the 24 months. Outcomes included controller medication fills, adherence, and asthma exacerbations.The study sample included 7275 children and 17 614 adults with HDHPs. In the differences-in-differences analyses among children, there were no differences in controller medical fill rates, except for a significant reduction in fills for inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) (−0.04; 95% confidence interval: −0.07 to −0.01). There were also no significant changes in the proportion of days covered by a controller medication (ie, adherence measure), steroid bursts, or asthma-related ED visits, comparing children with HDHPs to controls. Among adults with HDHPs, there were also no significant differences in outcomes.The findings are consistent with previous adult studies that revealed that enrollment in HDHPs have minimal to no decrease in medication use and without significant changes in health outcomes. The authors think this is partly due to HDHPs exempting medications, like asthma controller medications, from deductibles. These medications are instead paid in a copayment arrangement.This insurance policy approach reveals that HDHPs can be designed to support affordable coverage but also preserve necessary asthma care for patients.

6582Background: Little is known about the associations between enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHP) and access to care, spending, and health care utilization among working age cancer s...

High deductible health plans and spending among families with a substance use disorder

To test whether out-of-pocket costs and negotiated hospital prices for childbirth change after enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and whether price effects differ in markets with more hospitals. Administrative medical claims data from 2010 to 2014 from three large commercial insurers with plans in all U.S. states provided by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). I identify employer groups that switched from non-HDHPs in 1 year to HDHPs in a subsequent year. I estimate enrollees' change in out-of-pocket costs and negotiated hospital prices for childbirth after HDHP switch, relative to a comparison group of employers that do not switch plans. I use a triple-difference design to estimate price changes for enrollees in markets with more hospital choices. Finally, I re-estimate models with hospital-fixed effects. From the HCCI sample, childbearing women enrolled in an employer-sponsored plan with at least 10 people. Switching to an HDHP increases out-of-pocket cost $227 (p < 0.001; comparison group base $790) and has no meaningful effect on hospital-negotiated prices (-$26, p=0.756; comparison group base $5821). HDHP switch is associated with a marginally statistically significant price increase in markets with three or fewer hospitals ($343, p=0.096; comparison group base $5806) and, relative to those markets, with a price decrease in markets with more than three hospitals (-$512; p=0.028). Predicted prices decrease from $5702 to $5551 after HDHP switch in markets with more than three hospitals due primarily to lower prices conditional on using the same hospital. Prices for childbirth in markets with more hospitals decrease after HDHP switch due to lower hospital prices for HDHPs relative to prices at those same hospitals for non-HDHPs. These results reinforce previous findings that HDHPs do not promote price shopping but suggest negotiated prices may be lower for HDHP enrollees.

National guidelines recommend that children 2‐16 years old with sickle cell anemia (SCA) receive annual transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening to assess stroke risk. It is unknown whether cost‐sharing deters receipt of TCD screening for privately insured children with SCA, particularly among those enrolled in high‐deductible health plans (HDHPs). Therefore, our objectives were to: (1) estimate out‐of‐pocket spending for TCD screening among privately insured children with SCA; and (2) assess whether TCD screening rates differ by HDHP enrollment status.This study utilized the 2009‐2017 IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database, a national sample of claims from individuals with employer‐sponsored coverage. The study population included children 2‐16 years old with SCA that were enrolled for ≥ 1 calendar year of the study period. Outcomes were the proportion of children with ≥ 1 claim in a calendar year containing a procedure code for TCD and out‐of‐pocket spending per TCD claim; out‐of‐pocket spending was then stratified by HDHP enrollment status (yes/no). Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used to model the receipt of ≥ 1 TCD screen during a calendar year as predicted by HDHP enrollment, controlling for demographics and year.Children 2‐16 years old with SCA as identified through validated claims definitions.The study population consisted of 2,519 children accounting for 7,197 person‐years of enrollment. Mean age was 9.2 (SD 3.6) years; 50% were female; and 14% were HDHP enrollees. The proportion of children with ≥ 1 TCD claim during the year ranged from 40% to 44%. Out‐of‐pocket spending per TCD claim ranged from $0 to $1,808 (median: $20, 25th‐75th percentile: $0‐$111), exceeded $0 for 61% of TCD claims, and exceeded $100 for 27% of TCD claims. Out‐of‐pocket spending per TCD claim was higher for HDHP enrollees (median: $65, 25th‐75th percentile: $0‐$252) compared to non‐HDHP enrollees (median: $18, 25th‐75th percentile: $0‐$98). Out‐of‐pocket spending exceeded $100 for 42% of HDHP enrollees and 25% for non‐HDHP enrollees. HDHP enrollment was not associated with receipt of TCD screening (aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.25).Among privately insured children with SCA, less than half received recommended TCD screening. HDHP enrollment was not associated with TCD screening; however, 4 in 10 HDHP enrollees had out‐of‐pocket spending exceeding $100.Private health plans should consider eliminating cost‐sharing to ensure families are not unduly burdened by the costs of TCD screening.Departmental Funding.