In the first four years of the Affordable Care Act's existence, private healthcare costs rose 37 percent, Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan researchers found, according to examiner.com. The study involved analysis of 50 million Americans' private healthcare costs.
JAMA Internal Medicine published the report on June 27.
Here are five observations:
1. Researchers concluded the cost increase was not due to a state's decision about whether to accept federal assistance.
2. The study found private healthcare deductibles rose 86 percent over the four-year period.
3. Copays increased 33 percent over the four-year period, and healthcare policy costs rose 5.1 percent.
4. Patients with private healthcare paid about 33 percent more for hospital stays than those patients with group policies through their employers.
5. Many self-employed Americans have private healthcare, but since the ACA implementation, self employment has decreased by 5 percent annually.