Current estimates of the growth of high-deductible health plans have been increasing this year due to the belief that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act medical plans starting in 2014 are designed to keep premium costs low. The adage of low premium/high deductible still holds true, especially when people start shopping for the new plan year, or if they even can find them on working websites.

Experts say that while HDHPs have been booming lately, PPACA really should spur its growth.

Henry Loubet, chief strategy officer at Keenan, said that "HDHPs will likely become more accepted as a way to increase affordability to help employers comply with the Affordable Care Act. The looming 2018 Cadillac Tax will potentially accelerate this trend, as the premiums for many employer plans are close to, or already exceed, the 2018 tax threshold," as reported in MCOL.