Work

Consumer Behaviors Among Individuals Enrolled in High-Deductible Health Plans in the United States

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: websites providing at least 1 geographically-relevant price estimate also differed by location (χ = 34.4;P < .001),ranging from 47 (27.3%) in Chicago to 12 (7.1%) in Baltimore.Although prices listed on the sites varied widely within interventions, most websites did not specify whether the price quoted was the consumer's out-of-pocket cost.As an example, when searching for prices in Chicago, upper GI endoscopy prices ranged from $875 to $3958, brain MRIs from $230 to $1950, cholesterol panels from $25 to $100, and hip replacements from $27 000 to $80 671.Discussion | When searching for health care prices online, less than 1 in 5 websites yield local price estimates relevant to the intervention in question.This informational deficiency exists despite increased calls for price transparency and rising numbers of price transparency websites, reference pricing projects, and private insurer tools.3 Moreover, few price transparency websites showed up in searches (either state or privately run) and most were only available for users with subscriptions. 4 This finding may indicate that price transparency websites have not optimized their position in search results, or that insurers and health care providers have little incentive to release their negotiated prices.5 Our findings suggest that there is substantial room for improvement in providing consumers with ready access to health care prices online.Policy makers should consider mandating that payers and providers make these prices available to consumers.6 Specific policies include mandating state all-payer claims databases, and better supporting and marketing state-run price transparency websites, such as the one in New Hampshire.Given the increasing number of Americans facing high out-of-pocket health care expenses, we need to promote policies that make it easier for them to determine the price of their medical care in time to inform their health care choices.

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine

DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.6622