Association Between Switching to a High-Deductible Health Plan and Major Cardiovascular Outcomes

Key Points Question Are high-deductible health plans associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events? Finding This cohort study included 156 962 individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors who experienced mandated enrollment in health insurance plans with high deductibles but relatively low medication costs, a common value-based feature. Members with high-deductible health plans did not have detectable increases in major adverse cardiovascular events compared with 1 467 758 members with low-deductible health plans. Meaning Among patients with cardiovascular disease risk factors in this study, enrollment in typical high-deductible health plans was not associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events during 4 follow-up years.

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