Many buy high deductible health plans

ATLANTA, April 3 (UPI) -- In 2007, 17.3 percent of U.S. adults under age 65 with private health insurance were enrolled in a high deductible health plan, researchers said.

The survey by the National Health Interview Survey by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said 4.5 percent were enrolled in a consumer-directed health plan and 14.8 percent were in a family with a flexible spending account for medical expenses.

Persons with directly purchased private health insurance were more likely to be enrolled in a high deductible plan than those who obtained their private health insurance through an employer or union.

National attention to consumer-directed healthcare has increased following the enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, which established tax-advantaged health savings accounts.

Consumer-directed health care enables individuals to have more control over when and how they access care, what types of care they use and how much they spend on healthcare services.