How do higher deductibles impact care for chronic disease?

Out-of-pocket costs with high deductible health plans may discourage some poor and chronically ill patients from getting needed care, a U.S. study of diabetics suggests. Researchers examined data on about 12,000 people with diabetes who enrolled for one year in health insurance plans with annual deductibles of no more than $500, then switched for two years to plans with a deductible of at least $1,000.