Access & Affordability
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Coverage and utilization of telemedicine services by enrollees in large employer plans
Telemedicine – the delivery of health services by providers at remote locations, such as through video conferencing or remote monitoring – has been seen as a way to possibly improve access to care while lowering costs. There is also potential …
An examination of surprise medical bills and proposals to protect consumers from them
The term “surprise medical bill” describes charges arising when an insured person inadvertently receives care from an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills can arise in an emergency when the patient has no ability to select the emergency room, treating physicians, …
Surprise bills vary by diagnosis and type of admission
There has been considerable attention to the issue of “surprise-medical bills,” or the occurrence of out-of-network charges when a patient was unaware of charges and therefore could not reasonably avoid them. Earlier this year, we estimated that 18% of emergency …
How have diabetes costs and outcomes changed over time in the U.S.?
In this collection of charts, we use a variety of data sources to explore trends in health outcomes, quality of care, and spending on treatment for people in the U.S. with diabetes and other endocrine disorders. In the U.S., diabetes …
Tracking the rise in premium contributions and cost-sharing for families with large employer coverage
As health costs rise, enrollees in large employer plans face higher health spending both through rising premium contributions and increased cost-sharing when they use services. On average, health spending by families with large employer health plans has increased two times …

‘Deductible Relief Day’ – the day when average health spending exceeds the average deductible in an employer plan – is Sunday May 19th
Deductible Relief Day: How rising deductibles are affecting people with employer coverage
As deductibles have risen and become more common over the past decade, many people with employer-sponsored coverage have faced rising out-of-pocket costs. Out-of-pocket spending is increasingly likely to be in the form of a deductible, which often means enrollees pay …

Average share of family income going towards health insurance premium contributions and out-of-pocket medical expenses, 2017
How affordability of health care varies by income among people with employer coverage
The affordability of health insurance and health care continue to be key public concerns. While recent policy discussions have largely focused on the adequacy of financial assistance for those covered in ACA marketplaces and the nongroup market, millions of people …
More employers are paying for telemedicine, but enrollee take-up has been relatively low
Telemedicine – the delivery of health services by providers at remote locations, such as through video conferencing or remote monitoring – has been seen as a way to possibly improve access to care while also lowering costs. In our 2018 …
An analysis of out-of-network claims in large employer health plans
Being unable to afford health care when it is needed is one of the major worries of families, even those with insurance. Overall cost sharing (i.e., deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) has been increasing in employer plans, and enrollees who use …
Increases in cost-sharing payments continue to outpace wage growth
Cost-sharing between insurance providers and patients has increasingly become a topic of public discussion. In particular, the increasing proportion that enrollees are paying for healthcare has been an area of concern. For example, in the ten years from 2006 to …