MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Joel Segel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Health Policy and Administration The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Americans’ health insurance plans increasingly include deductibles, which require patients to pay a certain amount out-of-pocket before the health plan will cover most services. In addition, the levels of these deductibles have been increasing with more and more Americans enrolling in high-deductible health plans (HDHP’s), which in 2013 were plans with a deductible of $1,250 or more for an individual or $2,500 or more for a family. Furthermore, nearly 40% of those with private insurance have a HDHP including most of the bronze and silver plans on the federal Marketplace. This trend has many worried that patients are facing greater financial risk and may delay or forego necessary care because of costs. A population that may be most vulnerable to these problems are Americans with common chronic conditions. (more…)