Rural Residents More Likely to be Enrolled in High Deductible Health Plans. Research and Policy Brief.

摘要

Enrollment in high deductible health plans (HDHPs) has grown in recent years as employers and individuals respond to rising health insurance premiums. Prior research indicates that rural individuals are more likely than their urban counterparts to face high out-of-pocket health care costs relative to income, a difference related both to the lower income of rural residents generally and to the quality of the private plans through which they have coverage. While HDHPs may be attractive to rural enrollees due to their lower premiums, the income status of rural residents may limit their participation in savings accounts and make deductible and co-insurance costs burdensome. This study examines rural residents enrollment in HDHPs prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the implications for the evolving Health Insurance Marketplaces.