Health insurance should protect people from calamities

From Twincities.com



Julie Forster's Dec. 1 article, "Health insurers pushing consumer-driven plans," described a disturbing trend ? plans with high out-of-pocket costs. Such plans may offer scant financial protection for those with limited disposable income.



Insured people already shoulder a tremendous financial burden for health care. Studies have found that many families with health insurance exhaust savings and forgo other necessities to pay bills not covered by health insurers. A recent Access Project report documented that bills of $500 to $1,000 can create serious financial hardship for families, including housing, employment and credit problems. If deductibles are excessive, policyholders may be discouraged from using it at all.



At the Access Project, we fear such plans offer low-income workers a false sense of security. Health insurance should assure access to needed services and protect people from financial calamity. Health insurance must include protection that would cap out-of-pocket expenses based on policyholders' incomes.