Menu
One significant downside to a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is that you’re responsible for paying everything out-of-pocket until you reach your deductible (which typically ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 on these plans).
You’ll pay 100 percent of the cost of prescriptions, doctor visits and emergency room visits. You’ll also pay for the cost of surgeries and out-patient procedures.
If you’re considering a pregnancy, make sure there’s maternity coverage on your policy. There usually isn’t.
While a high-deductible plan can lower your overall health insurance costs while protecting you from unexpected and large medical bills, make sure you have your own plan to pay those initial out-of-pocket expenses. You’ll need a tax-deductible health savings account or your own savings plan to satisfy the deductible.
Research shows that people with high-deductible plans do cut their overall health care expenses. But they also tend to cut back on preventive health care such as childhood immunizations, cancer screenings and routine tests. This “penny wise and pound foolish” approach to medical care can be dangerous.
