One thing the reporter missed is that some of these plans, like Medica Solo that I have, do allow some doctors visits with a copay. Mine allows three visit per year with a $35 copay. I've saved enough already that I could go over my deductible, currently $3200, this year and still come out ahead. This plan works great for me since I very rarely go to a doctor except for a basic physical every two years that is required for work. I can't think of one time where I would have gone to a doctor if I had a better policy.

It's one thing to have a $3,000-$5,000 deductable. My otherwise healthy son has one insurance option thru his work, it has a $15,000 deductable. He recently had to undergo an emergency appendectomy and now he must pay Mayo $300 amonth until the $15,000 is paid off in about 4 years. He still will have copays for any additional care this year & of course he will pick up a new $15,000 deductable in 6 months. How can a blue collar worker ever get out of such heavy debt so he can even buy a good used car, go on vacation or even meet his basic needs?? We need massive health care reform or universal health care if blue collar workers are to have money to spend to stimulate our economy, outside of the medical industry!!

Health Insurance is such a scam!! Hello, isn't MN one of the healthiest states in the US and then we have these huge out of pocket expenses? Talk about a lucrative business.....

People with high deductible plans, particularly those that lack coverage for preventive care, do not always make the best decisions on their care. However, the same is true when insurance covers almost all of a person's expenses. It's very difficult to create plans that strongly encourage individuals to make good decisions, while sheltering them from the worst risks.

Vote Republican, get what you deserve.

It's ok, when you have a major health crisis, take a loan out on health care and lose your job, medicaid will pay. It's still all good.

"I can't think of one time where I would have gone to a doctor if I had a better policy." I'm glad you're healthy and this works for you - just hope you don't wind up with a bad appendix or a broken leg. There is growing evidence that these high deductible plans are costing everyone more money as people with chronic conditions avoid routine visits or try to stretch medications because they can't afford to do anything else. Meanwhile UnitedHealth Group posts record profits.

"I don't want to be the mean professor, but insurance means covering high-cost, low-probability events,"..."Prevention didn't used to be in the equation. We call it insurance, but we expect first-dollar coverage."----- I know our health is more important than a car or house but there is a huge difference in what people expect from their insurance. Your car/home insurance doesn't pay for routine maintenance. Unless there is a major loss, insurance doesn't pay anything.

Funny thing is, I know several people that spend hundreds of dollars a year washing their car but won't go to dentist to get their teeth cleaned because they don't have dental coverage.

Let's discuss this honestly, the completely predictable result (and predicted!!) was going to be that moving to a high-deductible plan meant missing some stuff for some people. This is no discovery, it's important how many people we're talking about. I have a high-deductible plan but I have a young healthy family and we can't afford the group plan for $1700 from my wife's work. We do eat the first 7 grand which has happened but it's still better than her group plan full of apparently sick people.

buttles: While I do hope I don't break a leg or have a bad appendix, I am financially prepared if it were to happen. Before I switched to this plan I was on COBRA and difference in premiums, over $260 ($395 to $132) at the time, was enough to cover the deductible. I am aware that COBRA is not the cheapest route and while I'm not sure what the numbers would be now, I'm certain I'm coming out ahead.