A study appearing in the journal Health Affairs concluded consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) — high-deductible, catastrophic coverage combined with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) — could achieve $57.1 billion savings annually if half the non-elderly U.S. population had them. That’s because they operate as true insurance plans, covering medical costs for unexpected, catastrophic events, with people paying out of their own pocket for routine care and prescriptions. The study predicts the potential savings of these plans, together with additional incentives in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will encourage their growth. [September 2012, 378 word article]