Abstract P225: Heartfelt Savings: Health Savings Accounts Assist in Alleviating Financial Burdens and Prompt Timely Treatment for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 149; no. Suppl_1
• Main Authors: Won, Daniel, Walker, James, Workman, Connor, Guo, James W, Zordani, Elizabeth, Chorniy, Anna, Malaisrie, S. Christopher, Lloyd-Jones, Donald M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 19-03-2024
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.149.suppl_1.P225

Abstract only
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among most costly in the U.S, with a significant portion of CVD patients unable to afford care. Use of health savings accounts (HSA) to increase financial savings for medical expenditures is controversial. While HSA have shown to not decrease medical expenditures, the financial impact of HSA on patients with CVD remains unknown.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for 2014-19 and included patients aged 18-64 who reported having at least one CVD (i.e., hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or all other CVD). A survey-weighted model was utilized to determine the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for associations between CVD patients with HSA and 1) demographics factors and 2) metrics associated with financial difficulty by adjusting for age, sex, race, total out of pocket (OOP) yearly premiums, total yearly medical expenditures, total OOP yearly medical expenditures, total yearly income, annual deductibles, and other demographic factors
(Figure 1)
.
Results:
CVD patients with HSA were significantly less likely to experience financial difficulties such as affording medical care (OR 0.586, 95% CI 0.344-0.998, p = 0.049) and trouble paying medical bills (OR 0.762, 95% CI 0.582-0.996, p = 0.047). Furthermore, CVD patients with HSA were significantly less likely to delay medical care (OR 0.614, 95% CI 0.389-0.970, p = 0.037) and preventive medicine (OR 0.575, 95% CI 0.336-0.983, p = 0.046) due to cost. However, CVD patients who earn lower income, self-identify as Hispanic or Black, from the South or West, or have lower years of education were significantly less likely to benefit from an HSA
(Figure 1)
.
Conclusions:
CVD patients with HSA were significantly associated with decreased financial difficulties and were less likely to delay care. Policies intended to support minority and lower-income CVD patients such as increased financial education may reduce healthcare disparities and promote access to care.