Shopping for health care makes "cents" for consumers: estimates of the potential financial benefits to consumers as they shop for elective medical care

Shopping for health care makes "cents" for consumers: estimates of the potential financial benefits to consumers as they shop for elective medical care

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Data brief (Health Care Cost Institute)
Author(s):
Barrette, Eric, author
Contributor(s):
Health Care Cost Institute, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, D.C., : Health Care Cost Institute, February 2015
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Choice Behavior
Community Participation
Delivery of Health Care -- economics
Fees, Medical -- trends
Health Care Costs -- trends
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Historically, consumers have not had consistent access to health care price and quality information when choosing a doctor or seeking a particular treatment. Meanwhile, prices continue to rise with little or no relationship to the measureable quality of care provided. Consumers are also increasingly expected to finance larger proportions of the costs of their care. More than ever before, consumers can benefit financially from shopping for health care services. This data brief highlights the variation that exists in actual prices paid for common health care services; and illustrates how much consumers' expenditures can be impacted. Consumers' out-of-pocket health care spending is rising. Per capita out-of-pocket spending for the employer sponsored insurance population rose from $662 to $707 in 2013. Consumers out-of-pocket spending is affected by variations in the prices. The national average variation in commercially insured consumer out-of-pocket spending for a non-contrast MRI--hip/knee/ankle was $342 in 2013.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (4 pages)) : illustrations.
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
101654708 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101654708