Small Businesses Turn to High Deductible Plans To Cut Costs

Some of California's small business owners are attempting to reduce their share of insurance premium costs by shifting employees into high deductible health plans. Advocates of using high deductible plans say that workers will be compelled to take greater responsibility for their health care when they have to pay more for treatment. However, critics say high deductible plans can cause cash-strapped residents to delay medical care and become sicker.

• "HEALTH: Businesses Turn to High Deductible Medical Insurance" (Berkman, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 2/25).