subject: Higher Medicare Co-pays Mean Fewer Doctor Visits [print this page] A large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine recently revealed that higher Medicare co-pays, sometimes only a few dollars more, lead to fewer doctor visits and longer hospital stays.
Keeping seniors healthy by encouraging outpatient care, especially for those who have chronic diseases, is important and valuable, said Alan Weinstock, insurance broker at http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com. Increasing co-pays by even just a few dollars may discourage someone from seeking the treatment they need.
The study, funded by grants from Pfizer, Inc., and the federal government, included nearly 900,000 seniors in 36 Medicare managed-care plans between 2001 and 2006. Half of the plans raised co-pays during this period, some by as much as 100 percent. They compared how these medical plans were used against how similar Medicare managed-care plans that did not raise co-pays were used. They found that for every 100 people enrolled in a plan that raised co-pays, there were 20 fewer doctor visits and two additional hospital admissions with longer stays.
As health care costs have climbed, insurance companies have passed the increases along to patients, resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenses when they seek medical care. Unfortunately, this has resulted in too many older patients on a fixed income deferring needed medical attention. The end result may be a more serious health issue that could put them in the hospital. When that happens, no one benefits.
Ultimately, this kind of action may actually lead to higher health care costs instead of lowering them, Alan Weinstock added. What these results suggest is that raising co-pays in order to contain rising medical costs is actually counterproductive.
A previous study on increased patient cost sharing conducted in 1972 for Californias Medicaid program showed the same results. At that time, a $1 co-pay was introduced. This led to an eight percent decline in doctor visits and a 17 percent increase in hospital stays.
The research suggests is that in order to hold medical costs down, it is wiser to encourage a proactive view on medical care. That means ensuring that seniors can afford preventative care in order to avoid hospital stays.
by: Alfred Winston
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