Isn't that the purpose of deductibles being so high? So that the patient/consumer is made acutely aware of the costs of medical procedures that are not covered until they fulfill their deductibles? that was the whole purpose of high deductibles being allowed by our gvt in the ACA, that and supposedly to lower the price of the policies....?
ACA didn't "allow" high deductible plans, it sat on them. The thing is, before ACA, high deductible plans had very low premiums. From 2005 - 2008 mine cost around $150/mo, with a $4000 deductible. By comparison a plan with a $100 deductible cost $600/mo. The savings in premiums was more than enough to fund an HSA to cover the deductible.
But that ACA changed all that. The new regulations and mandates have cranked up the premiums on high deductible plans such that the math no longer makes sense - ie the savings in premiums for the high deductible plans don't make up for the difference in the deductible.