Are We Surprised?

 

" Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Plans: Are They An Option for Low-Income Families?," Kaiser Family Foundation : The issue paper, based on analyses of available data and research, examines whether low-income families could benefit from health savings accounts and high deductible health plans. According to the paper, such plans shift financial risk to consumers through higher deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs for such plans could consume up to 15% of the annual income for low-income families. In addition, the paper says that the incomes of most low-income families and individuals are not high enough to benefit from the tax deductions associated with HSAs and such plans reduce the use of preventive care and primary services (Kaiser Family Foundation, "Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Plans: Are They An Option for Low-Income Families?," October 2006).