“Why Consumers Often Err in Choosing Health Plans” – The New York Times

“Evaluating health insurance plans can be daunting and confusing,
and most people don’t get much guidance, research shows.”

02up-healthenroll-superJumbo-v5

This article by Austin Frakt at The New York Times keys in on some important issues about health insurance.

“It’s open enrollment season for almost every kind of health insurance in America. Millions of Americans using Medicare plans, employer-sponsored health insurance or Affordable Care Act marketplaces select health plans each fall. Many consumers face numerous options, and research shows that they make many mistakes, often paying more than they need to.

“Some err by selecting deductibles that are too low. Lower deductibles can be a fine choice for some consumers, but trying to save money with a lower deductible can be a poor choice if a person pays even more in premiums. For instance, at one large American company in 2010, employees could reduce their deductible by $250 — to $750 from $1,000 — by paying $500 more in premiums. Trading $500 for $250 is clearly a bad deal for the consumer.”

Click here to continue reading this New York Times article.

Leave a comment