Having that high-deductible health plan might kill you, literally

"The issue is particularly critical right now for people who have insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Prices for those plans have skyrocketed this year after Congress failed to extend critical tax credits. Without those credits, monthly premiums for ACA plans have, on average, more than doubled. Early data on ACA enrollments for 2026 not only suggests that fewer people are signing up for the plans, but also that those who are enrolling are often choosing bronze plans, which are high-deductible plans."

"Based on previous data, such high out-of-pocket costs are known to lead people to delay or decrease health care-they may skip doctor visits, put off diagnostics, and avoid treatments. In the study, researchers considered plans to be "high-deductible health plans" (HDHPs) if their deductibles were at least $1,200 to $1,350 for individuals or $2,400 to $2,700 for families between 2011 and 2018 (with the cutoffs increasing within the ranges during that time). For context, the average individual deductible for an ACA bronze plan in 2026 is about $7,500, according to KFF."

People with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) who receive a cancer diagnosis experience worse overall survival and cancer-specific survival compared with people holding more standard health plans. High-deductible plans require substantial out-of-pocket payments before insurance coverage begins, with thresholds of $1,200–$1,350 for individuals and $2,400–$2,700 for families between 2011 and 2018. The average individual deductible for an ACA bronze plan in 2026 is about $7,500. ACA premiums more than doubled after Congress failed to extend tax credits, prompting lower enrollments and increased selection of bronze, high-deductible plans. High out-of-pocket costs lead people to delay care, skip visits, postpone diagnostics, and avoid treatments, contributing to poorer cancer outcomes.

Read at Ars Technica