NPC @ AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting: What Do We Know about High-Deductible Health Plans?

As high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) become more commonly used in health care, the need for high quality research to understand their impact becomes even greater. National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC)-University of Southern California Schaeffer Center’s Postdoctoral Health Policy Fellow Ilene L. Hollin, PhD, MPH, will moderate a panel, “What Do We Know about High-Deductible Health Plans and What Do We Need to Learn?” to discuss what we know—and don’t know—about high deductible health plans at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting in New Orleans.

HDHPs, also called consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs), are high-deductible plans offered in combination with an account that enrollees can access to offset the deductible expense. While premiums may be lower in HDHPs, they feature higher deductibles that must be met before traditional medical and pharmacy coverage begins. Placing more of the economic burden on consumers is intended to reduce unnecessary or excess health care, but there is a risk it may also reduce appropriate or needed care, consequently harming their health and productivity in the long run. For many consumers, meeting the deductible—which can run several thousands of dollars—can be a sizable portion of their incomes.

To learn more about HDHPs, visit our website and be sure to attend Dr. Hollin’s panel at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.