Impact of High Deductible Health Insurance Plans on Doctors

High Deductible Plans are Bad News for Doctors. Did you know that 29% of people who have commercial health insurance through their job are now on a high deductible health plan? That’s up from 19% just 10 years ago. 
 
High deductible plans are increasingly common but if you are a doctor, they are bad news. 
 
These plans have a lot of out-of-pocket costs for patients. As a result, doctors must expect their patients to pay at the time of service for office visits, tests and procedures. 
 
There are four specific ways physician practices can care for their patients, manage expectations, and still get paid. I’m breaking it all down in this week’s episode of Healthcare Uncovered.  

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[MeherScholar]

I went to a hospital-owned Urgent Care. I did not know they charge a $402 "facility fee" to any high-deductible plan holder for walking in the door, plus charges for services provided. As a high-deductible plan holder, what I want from doctors are clear and accessible price lists.

[MeherScholar]

One year, I actually met my high deductible and thought "Super! At last, I can afford some physical therapy for the back pain I've had for years." When I went to the doctor and asked for a order for physical therapy, he replied "I do not consider your financial considerations a therapeutic reason for ordering physical therapy."

[fhdnfn]

I love the new format! Much clearer than the whiteboard! Let us know if the good doctor writes a book on these things. I’ll buy a copy right now!

[klee]

Providers hate HDHP. But that’s the point - the purpose of HDHP is to let patients take control of healthcare costs and exercise their rights as consumer (“consumerism”). Manage patients’ expectations upon check-in by letting them know that they may have to pay out of pocket if they haven’t exhausted their deductible limit. This should lead patients to be more considerate in seeking care and providers to be more cautious and picky in running tests. I love HDHP because I pay less premiums and deposit the savings (i.e., diff in premiums between hdhp and ppo) into HSA and have the HSA grow with market. I plan to use HSA money in retirement.

[michaelbarrett]

Physicians should be willing to work
With small employers. Many employers reimburse a portion of the high deductible but they give the money to the members.

[DinoRamzi]

Not really. It’s an incentive to support Direct Primary Care. It’s bad for integrated health systems reimbursement,