This March 2007 issue brief, commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation, examines the development of consumer-directed health plans in the Medicare program. Medicare Medical Savings Account plans have high deductibles accompanied by a personal savings account that can be used to pay for medical expenses. The paper examines how such plans operate in Medicare, how they differ from other types of Medicare Advantage plans and the potential implications for Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in them. It describes the three such plans currently available, which collectively enroll fewer than 3,000 beneficiaries. Beth Fuchs and Lisa Potetz of Health Policy Alternatives authored the paper.

 Issue Brief (.pdf)