Source: NYT > Business (paywall)
As premiums and deductibles climb, corporate cost-shifting is creating a direct consumer behavior change: people are skipping or delaying medical care entirely rather than absorbing higher out-of-pocket expenses. This hollows out the employer-sponsored insurance model that once insulated workers from price sensitivity. Millions of Americans are becoming price-conscious health care consumers. Pharmacy chains, urgent care, and telehealth adoption will shift as people hunt for cheaper alternatives.