A survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute finds that participants in a consumer-driven health plan (CDHPs), such as a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) make better informed health care decisions and are healthier in general. As reported in Employee Benefit News, nearly 10 million adults enrolled in such plans during 2008.

The survey showed that 3% of adults are enrolled in some type of CDHP, up from 2% in 2007. The number of adults enrolled in an HDHP held steady at 11%. Consumer satisfaction with the quality of care provided is similar in CDHPs to that of traditional plans, but lower for those participants only covered by an HDHP.

Of particular note is the survey finding that HDHP participants tend to be in better health than those with traditional coverage. On the one hand, it stands to reason that a plan with higher out-of-pocket costs would appeal more to those who stand less chance of incurring a major medical expense. But as the article points out, HDHPs also place a greater value on individual awareness of the cost of care, which in turn promotes a greater focus on personal wellness. So participants can benefit from HDHPs on a physical and emotional basis as well as a financial one.

The survey also revealed that HDHP participants sometimes delay or avoid getting care because of cost concerns. But 42% of the 13.4 millions consumers with a high-deductible plan report that they do not have a health savings account (HSA), despite their availability. By encouraging the addition of an HSA or an employer-funded HRA from which the participant can pay their deductible costs, the employer can go a long way toward preventing this behavior.

MedBen offers full-service administration of FSA, HRA and turn-key HSA, along with the administration of both fully insured and self-funded HDHPs. For more information, contact MedBen Specialty Services at (800) 297-1829.