High-deductible health insurance plans seem to work as intended. In addition to lower premiums, members utilize benefits less. For instance, a new study shows that patients went to the emergency room less frequently for non-emergency conditions. According to a recent study conducted by the Department of Ambulatory Care Prevention and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients with high-deductible health plans attended the emergency department approximately 10% less often than patients with traditional more comprehensive plans.

High-deductible health plans have grown in popularity through making insurance more affordable to individuals and employers alike due to lower premiums. The pay off is that policy holders need to pay for most medical expenses until they reach their deductible which averages $1,000 to $4,000 per annum. ER visits and hospital stays are usually subject to the plan deductible.