[ars]

I wouldn't be quite that harsh, but I agree with you overall. I don't understand why in the world they thought this would work.

Are they confusing deductibles with co-insurance? I know the field is confusing, and that sort of confusion is the only way this study makes any sense.

With a deductible ANY non-routine spending means you go over it. So why bother price shopping? It makes no difference.

With co-insurance you pay a portion of every bill, so in that case price matters.