Editorial Board
Out of Pocket, Out of Control
Copayments are meant to deter unnecessary care but are becoming a barrier to access.
The good news is that your copay made you 10 pounds lighter.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/BloombergObamacare's goal to expand access to health care has been only half a success: More Americans have insurance, but a rise in cost sharing means fewer can use it. Copayments -- those predetermined charges you pay at the doctor's office -- are a big part of the problem. In recent years, they've risen to the point where they no longer work as they're meant to.
In theory, charging moderate fees to see a doctor or get a procedure gives people an incentive to consider whether they really need it. Done carefully, copays can thus reduce unnecessary spending, benefiting everyone.