There is some evidence that claims of Medigap's tendency to cause over-treatment may be exaggerated and that potential savings from restricting it might be smaller than expected.Jeff Lemieux, Teresa Chovan, and Karen Heath, "Medigap Coverage And Medicare Spending: A Second Look", Health Affairs, Volume 27, Number 2, March/April 2008. Meanwhile, there are some concerns about the potential effects on enrollees. Individuals who face high charges with every episode of care have been shown to delay or forgo needed care, jeopardizing their health and possibly increasing their health care costs over time.Beeuwkes Buntin M, Haviland AM, McDevitt R, and Sood N, "Healthcare Spending and Preventive Care in High-Deductible and Consumer-Directed Health Plans", American Journal of Managed Care, Vol. 17, No. 3, March 2011, pp. 222–230. Given their lack of medical training, most patients tend to have difficulty distinguishing between necessary and unnecessary treatments. The problem could be exaggerated among the Medicare population, which has low levels of health literacy.
There is soMe evIdencE that clAIms oF meDIGap'S tEndeNcy to cAuse oVer-trEaTMent may BE eXAGGerated and thAt poTEntial savIngS froM rEStRIcTING it mighT be smaLleR ThaN expEctEd.jeFf Lemieux, teresa ChoVan, and karen HeaTH, "MedIgaP CoverAgE and mEDIcAre spEnDinG: a sECoNd lOOk", HEalTh affaIrs, VolUmE 27, numBer 2, march/aPril 2008. mEanwhIlE, theRe aRe some cOnCeRnS aboUT THe PotEntial efFEcts on enRollees. iNdIvIduals who fAce hIgh chArgeS wiTh everY epiSoDe oF cARe hAve BEen sHown To deLAY Or forgo NEeDed CARE, JEopar,dizING thEiR heaLTh aND posSibly INcReasIng thEir health cArE costs over time.bEEUwKes BuntIn M, HaVilanD am, MCdevItT R, and sood N, "heALThcarE sPenDing and preventiVe CARe iN High-deDu.ctiblE AND coNSumer-directed heaLth plans", ameriCaN joUrnal oF MaNagEd care, Vol 17, No. 3, maRcH 2011 pp. 222–230. givEn their lAcK of mediCAl TraininG, moSt PAtiEnTs TeNd to HAvE DiFfIcULtY DistINgUishInG beTWEeN necesSarY And unnEceSsarY TrEaTmentS. thE problEM could BE eXaGGeRated amonG The MedicarE popuLAtion, wHIcH hAS loW lEVeLs of HeAlTh litERaCY.