Consumer-Driven Downside: Much of the cost savings that employers realize by
offering consumer-driven health plans may actually be due to employees not using
these services because of higher out-of-pocket costs, according to a new study
by Milliman and the National Business Group on Health.
The study, which is based on a quantitative analysis of six employer programs
with 30,000 employees enrolled in some kind of consumer-driven health plan,
found that they deliver cost savings that are only 1.5 percent greater than
traditional plans.
The study also found that most participants in consumer-driven plans are
young and healthy. Only 14 percent of eligible participants (excluding
Medicare-eligible) are enrolled in consumer-driven plans.
The report also discusses the need for employers to increase communications
around their consumer-driven programs. Only one of the six employers in the
study said that employees had access to information about provider costs.
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