Challenging the Myth of 'Skin in the Game' in U.S. Health Insurance

Politics

1 year ago

News sources:

Credited from: LATIMES

The concept of "skin in the game" suggests that requiring patients to pay a portion of their healthcare costs promotes better medical decision-making.
This idea is being questioned by health economists Liran Einav and Amy Finkelstein, who have recently retracted their previous support for cost-sharing.
Research indicates that while cost-sharing reduces unnecessary care, it also limits access to effective and necessary treatments.
The American healthcare system's reliance on cost-sharing has not successfully controlled costs or improved health outcomes, with the U.S. spending the most on healthcare with poorer results compared to other wealthy nations.
Despite historical evidence against cost-sharing, its impact remains strong in U.S. policy, perpetuating issues like medical debt and the uninsured crisis.

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