RAND Study: HDHPs Save Money But.....

In what has to be the most extensive study done on HDHPs, RAND looked at over 800,000 people enrolled in this type of coverage spread among 53 employer groups. The findings are as follows:

• Health costs increased for enrollees in both high-deductible and traditional plans but grew more slowly in the high-deductible group.
• HDHP enrollees spent less on both inpatient and outpatient medical services, as well as prescription drugs. Spending for emergency care did not differ from traditional plans.
• Individual deductibles must be rather high ?more than $1,000 per person? to achieve meaningful cost savings.
  

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/HEP-264431/HDHPs-Associated-With-14-Decline-in-Health-Spending.html