1. The CDHP/401(k) Comparison
"It took 20 years for 401(k) plans to enjoy widespread adoption, so it’s not surprising that consumer-driven health plans, which have been around for a half-dozen years, haven’t taken off overnight, the plans’ proponents say. “Given the newness of the plans, the indicators are actually pretty good,” one says. "
2. Consumerism Still Not Living Up to the Name
With the federal government, state legislatures, aggressive business groups and corporate clients now breathing down their necks, vendors are scrambling to provide the information necessary to turn health-care users into informed consumers. But such tools are still years away.
3. Health Plan Vital Sign
4. Fatal Flaw May Doom Consumer-Driven Health Plans
Consumer-driven health plans were designed to help slow rising health care spending by corporations. But the schemes may fail if employers don’t provide employees with proper education.
6. Kaiser Survey Shows Consumer Plans Instigate Premium Slowdown
The Kaiser Family Foundation’s much ballyhooed annual health care cost survey may be flawed, but it might prove that new products in the health care market, specifically consumer-driven plans, are forcing health insurers to lower their premiums.
7. More Employers Offering Only Consumer-Driven Health Plans
Plagued by high health care costs, more employers are embracing the concept of replacing all existing medical insurance plans and implementing a full-replacement consumer-driven health care program. But, they are proceeding with caution.
Consumer-driven health plans aren’t quite flatlining, but their growth is extremely slow. The percentage of employees enrolled in a consumer-driven plan with an HSA or HRA rose from 3 percent in 2006 to just 5 percent in 2007. Employer adoption slowed in 2007, and will moderate again in 2008, according to a Mercer survey.
Recommend 0
= Member Only
