Patient 'out of pocket' expenses to spike

[DrLeftover]

Key Sentence: "federal officials have granted a one-year grace period to some insurers, allowing them to set higher limits, or no limit at all on some costs,"

August 12, 2013

WASHINGTON — In another setback for President Obama’s health care initiative, the administration has delayed until 2015 a significant consumer protection in the law that limits how much people may have to spend on their own health care.

The limit on out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-payments, was not supposed to exceed $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family. But under a little-noticed ruling, federal officials have granted a one-year grace period to some insurers, allowing them to set higher limits, or no limit at all on some costs, in 2014.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/13/us/a-limit-on-consumer-costs-is-delayed-in-health-care-law.html?partner=MYWAY&ei=5065&_r=1&