Apr
16
2008
Enrollment in consumer driven and high-deductible health plans remain low
Author: Byron UdellAccording to a recent survey by EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care, enrollment in consumer-driven and high-deductible health plans increased in 2007, but still makes up a small segment of the overall insurance market. One in 10 insured adults had high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) without accounts. The survey also found the percentage of consumer-driven plan enrollees with high incomes (above $100,000) swelled in 2007.
Consumer-driven plans were introduced in 2001 with the goal of decreasing the number of uninsured, encouraging cost-consciousness among consumers, and increasing the amount of information on the cost and quality of providers.
The EBRI/Commonwealth survey found differences in the types of people enrolled in the various health plans. Consumer-driven plan enrollees are in better health, are less likely to smoke, are more likely to exercise, and to be white, male, and higher-income. They are no more likely to have been uninsured prior to enrollment than adults in other plans. In terms of behavior, enrollees in consumer-driven plans are more cost-conscious about their health care than are people enrolled in more comprehensive plans, are less satisfied with their plans overall, and are more likely to say they avoided needed care because of cost.
Results of the survey appear in the March 2008 EBRI Issue Brief, available at www.ebri.org, and on the Commonwealth Fund Web site, www.commonwealthfund.org
Tags: Health Insurance
