Individuals who are buying high-deductible health insurance plans seem to be getting good packages of benefits for a reasonably low price.[@@]
Researchers at eHealthInsurance Services Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., a Web-based health insurance broker, have published data supporting that conclusion in a study based on data drawn from the broker's sales records.
Thousands of customers bought high-deductible individual and family health policies that were compatible with the new health savings account program in 2004, eHealthInsurance researchers report.
Purchasers of the insurance plans are eligible to deduct thousands of dollars in annual contributions to the health savings accounts themselves, which are separate from the plans.
EHealthInsurance is not providing information about topics such as the percentage of applicants who were declined, but company researchers note that 48.9% of the HSA plan purchasers were age 40 or older. Only 34.5% of the purchasers of the conventional health insurance plans were over age 39.
