Over the last several years my annual deductible has increased from $500 to $2,000 to keep rates affordable for my company and me. With higher rates, I have had to limit key diagnostic services that my physician recommended at my physical. Does health reform cap personal deductibles, or can I expect it to increase and limit my choices?
— John Greene, Evanston
Your costs could go up, but the health law could temper increases for everybody once the more than 30 million uninsured have coverage, because it will spread risk over a larger population.
In the meantime, you should be getting a significant break because dozens of preventive services, from cholesterol and blood pressure tests to diabetes screenings, will be covered by the health law once health plan renewals begin, generally in January.
So although there is no guarantee your deductible will stay as it is, the law does provide relief in that your co-payments and deductibles are to be covered by your insurer or employer for certain preventive services.
If you have a question for Bruce Japsen about how the health care overhaul affects you or your business, e-mail bjapsen@tribune.com. For more health stories, tools, resources and expert advice, visit healthkey.com.
Who employers cover
177 million
Number of Americans covered by employer-based health care.
88 percent
Portion of all individuals with private insurance who are covered by employers.
