Trends in underinsurance and the affordability of employer coverage, 2004-2007.
Based on simulated bill paying, this paper examines trends in comprehensiveness of coverage, out-of-pocket spending for medical services, underinsurance, and the affordability of employer-based insurance from 2004 to 2007. Data are from MarketScan medical claims and an annual survey of employer health benefits. Health plans covered slightly fewer expenses in 2007 than in 2004, but out-of-pocket spending grew more than one-third because of growth in overall health spending. For people at 200 percent of poverty, the percentage spending more than 10 percent of their income out of pocket on premiums plus services increased from 13 percent to 18 percent.
Gabel
Jon R
JR
National Opinion Research Center (NORC), Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Gabel-Jon@NORC.org
McDevitt
Roland
R
Lore
Ryan
R
Pickreign
Jeremy
J
Whitmore
Heidi
H
Ding
Tina
T
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000639:trends*; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D014481:United States