Out-of-Pocket Spending on Health Care Services

In recent years, individuals with health insurance coverage have experienced increases in out-of-pocket expenses for health care.

Distribution of Deductibles for Employee-Only PPO Coverage, 2000-2008

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust, 2000-2008 Survey of Employer Health Benefits Report.

Many workers are paying higher co-payments for physician visits in HMOs.

Percentage of Covered Workers Facing Various HMO Co-Payment Amounts for Physician Office Visits, 1998-2008

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust, 1996-2008 Survey of Employer Health Benefits Report.

Co-payment levels for prescription drugs have increased, and employers have added a fourth tier to the common three-tier co-payment system.

Average Co-Payments Per Prescription in Multi-Tier Arrangements, 2000-2008

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust, 2000-2008 Survey of Employer Health Benefits Report. Note: Four-tier drugs: New types of cost-sharing arrangements that typically build additional layers of higher co-payments or coinsurance for specially identified types of drugs, such as lifestyle or injectable drugs.