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Analysis

Who shoulders the greatest burden of out-of-pocket health care costs?

Out-of-pocket costs may be going down for low-income individuals, but middle class workers aren't seeing the same relief.

Certain policy changes over the years have provided more risk protection to low-income groups but have increased out-of-pocket risk for those in a higher-income group.(Photo: Shutterstock)

There is nothing like a pandemic to get people thinking about the high cost-sharing requirements in their health insurance coverage. But of course this is nothing new. High deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, combined with out-of-network bills for physician services, leave many insured Americans facing very high out-of-pocket costs. According to federal data, average deductibles in employer plans more than doubled between 2008 and 2017. For many, this results in an unaffordable burden.

But a recent study released by The Commonwealth Fund found that there is a significant higher impact for those in a certain income level when it comes to out-of-pocket spend.

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Heather Nevitt

Heather Nevitt

Heather D. Nevitt is the Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Counsel and Global Leaders in Law.

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