Managing Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses:
How Well are Families Prepared for a World of High Deductibles?
May 16, 2019
This workshop explored the impact of high-deductible health plans on families’ out-of-pocket medical expenses. The workshop, co-sponsored by UW-Madison’s Center for Financial Security, was supported by the Herb Kohl Public Service Research Competition.
Conference organizer J. Michael Collins opened the workshop by sharing results of a survey of public employees who have health plans through the Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds (ETF). You can read a summary of the findings here: Brief
Three speakers shared perspectives from health plan providers, consumers, and physicians.
- Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds Secretary Robert Conlin
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld
- Wisconsin Medical Society Manager of Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs HJ Waukau
Following these presentations, the discussion turned to solutions, including how to better prepare consumers and families to effectively use high-deductible health plans, including speakers from Covering Wisconsin, UW-LaCrosse, and UW-Madison’s Division of Extension addressing credit interventions, insurance literacy, and financial interventions. The workshop concluded with a presentation by Karen Timberlake of Michael Best Strategies.
For a summary see this blog at the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
See also the full Agenda.
See the presentations here: FinMedMay16Workshop.
An archived recording is here.
FINMed 