RAND Research Topic: Health Insurance Benefit Design 2012-05-24T14:56:47Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/health-insurance-benefit-design.html Expanding Consumer-Directed Health Plans Could Help Cut Overall Health Care Spending http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201200104.html May 7, 2012 May 7, 2012 If consumer-directed health plans grow to account for half of all employer-sponsored insurance in the United States, health costs could drop by $57 billion annually&mdash;about 4 percent of all health care spending among the nonelderly. Expanding Consumer-Directed Health Plans Could Help Cut Overall Health Care Spending http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/05/07/index1.html May 7, 2012 May 7, 2012 If consumer-directed health plans grow to account for half of all employer-sponsored insurance in the United States, health costs could drop by $57 billion annually&mdash;about 4 percent of all health care spending among the nonelderly. Survey Results Show That Adults Are Willing to Pay Higher Insurance Premiums for Generous Coverage of Specialty Drugs http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120092.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 This study estimated how healthy people value insurance coverage of specialty drugs, defined as high-cost drugs that treat cancer and other serious health conditions like multiple sclerosis, by quantifying willingness to pay via a survey. Can Employer Accommodation Reduce Disability-Related Retirement? http://www.rand.org/labor/centers/cdr/projects/disability-to-retirement.html Mar 14, 2012 Mar 14, 2012 Employment trajectories following the onset of disability are poorly understood. Employer-focused policy interventions may reduce uptake in public disability insurance and disability-induced early retirement. Consumers May Have More Control Over Health Care Costs Than Previously Thought http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/09/29.html Sep 29, 2011 Sep 29, 2011 The historic RAND Health Insurance Experiment found that patients had little or no control over their health care spending once they began to receive a physician's care, but this has changed for those enrolled in consumer-directed health plans. Consumers May Have More Control Over Health Care Costs Than Previously Thought http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100208.html Sep 29, 2011 Sep 29, 2011 The historic RAND Health Insurance Experiment found that patients had little or no control over their health care spending once they began to receive a physician's care, but this has changed for those enrolled in consumer-directed health plans. High-Deductible Health Plans Pose No Special Risks to Medically Vulnerable Populations http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/04/18.html Apr 18, 2011 Apr 18, 2011 People who are medically vulnerable -- those with low incomes or chronic health problems -- who enroll in high-deductible health plans are at no more risk for cutting back on needed health care than other people who enroll in the plans. Largest Study of High-Deductible Health Plans Finds Substantial Cost Savings, but Less Preventive Care http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20110048.html Mar 25, 2011 Mar 25, 2011 The largest-ever assessment of high-deductible health plans finds that while such plans significantly cut health spending, they also prompt patients to cut back on preventive health care. Largest Study of High-Deductible Health Plans Finds Substantial Cost Savings, but Less Preventive Care http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/03/25.html Mar 24, 2011 Mar 24, 2011 The largest-ever assessment of high-deductible health plans finds that while such plans significantly cut health spending, they also prompt patients to cut back on preventive health care. Health Care: Myths, Realities http://www.rand.org/commentary/2010/03/23/SOSD.html Mar 23, 2010 Mar 23, 2010 To clear up some of the confusion about the newly approved health care legislation, Elizabeth McGlynn debunks some common misconceptions about the bill. Obama's Health Plan: New Federal Role for Insurance Regulation http://www.rand.org/commentary/2010/02/22/NJ.html Feb 21, 2010 Feb 21, 2010 <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px;">To provide a context for understanding health insurance premium price&nbsp;increases, this document identifies the factors that insurance companies consider when setting rates for the next year.</span></p> Feasibility and Design Options for a Potential Entity to Research the Comparative Effectiveness of Medical Treatments http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR803.html Jan 15, 2010 Jan 15, 2010 <p>An exploration of the options available to Massachusetts as it considers establishing a comparative effectiveness center to guide health care purchasing decisions, as mandated by its legislature, reveals that all of the options are potentially feasible, but design decisions must consider the prioritization of comparative effectiveness research relative to other approaches to improving health care quality and reducing spending growth.</p> Increase the Use of "Bundled" Payment Approaches http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z20.html Jan 8, 2010 Jan 8, 2010 This document explores how increased use of bundled payment approaches would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Require Employers to Offer Coverage http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z2.html Jan 8, 2010 Jan 8, 2010 This document explores how requiring employers to offer health insurance (an employer mandate) would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Require Individuals to Obtain Coverage http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z1.html Jan 8, 2010 Jan 8, 2010 This document explores how requiring individuals to obtain health insurance (an individual mandate) would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Ease Medicaid/SCHIP Eligibility Rules http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z3.html Jan 8, 2010 Jan 8, 2010 This document explores how expanding Medicaid/SCHIP eligibility would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Modify Federal Tax Code to Create Incentives for Individuals to Obtain Coverage http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z7.html Jan 8, 2010 Jan 8, 2010 This document explores how a refundable tax credit to offset the cost of health insurance premiums would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Increase Cost-Participation by Employees (e.g., Through High-Deductible Health Plans) http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z4.html Oct 12, 2009 Oct 12, 2009 This document explores how increased cost participation by employees would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Create or Expand Access to Purchasing Pools http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z11.html Oct 12, 2009 Oct 12, 2009 This document explores how creating or expanding access to purchasing pools would affect health system performance along nine dimensions. Open Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR562z8.html Oct 12, 2009 Oct 12, 2009 This document explores how expanding access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) would affect health system performance along nine performance dimensions.