Demographics of CDHP Enrollees
EBRI has released the latest in its series of surveys on “Characteristics of the Population With Consumer-Driven and High-Deductible Health Plans.”
This is the ninth year in which Paul Fronstin has looked at the people enrolling in “consumer driven health plans” (CDHPs), which include both HRA and HSA models. He also surveys people with stand-alone “high deductible health plans” (HDHPs), and “traditional” plans, though I am not sure what traditional means anymore. It is defined as any plan with a deductible below $1,000 for an individual, so I guess it includes PPOs, HMOs, and POS plans.
In any case, as usual he finds that CDHP enrollees are very much like everybody else, with these exceptions — they are much better educated, have somewhat better incomes, and are slightly healthier. There are “statistically significant” differences in some other categories, but they are not great and they tend to bounce around from year to year. For instance, in 2013 70% of CDHP enrollees were married, compared to 63% for HDHPs and 61% for traditional. But in 2012 the rates were 78% for CDHP, 70% for HDHP, and 76% for traditional. It is hard to see much of a trend there.
But there is a definite trend in education levels. Here is the comparison of the completed education levels for enrollees of each type of plan for 2013, but the differences are similar for every year surveyed.
This should not be remotely surprising. People who are better educated are more willing to be risk-takers and try out new things, plus they are likely to be more confident in their ability to navigate the health system and make their own decisions about what to do.
And, of course, people with better educations tend to make more money and tend to be healthier. But there does not seem to be as much disparity in these categories (health and wealth) as there is for education. It would be fascinating to control for education and then see what if any differences there are in health and wealth. My hunch is that CDHP enrollees would prove to be less healthy and less wealthy than people in other plans with similar educations — just the opposite of what critics predicted.
Alas, this test will probably never be done, so we will never know.
“And, of course, people with better educations tend to make more money and tend to be healthier.”
Well that is generally the trend
“My hunch is that CDHP enrollees would prove to be less healthy and less wealthy than people in other plans with similar educations — just the opposite of what critics predicted.”
Why
This really makes me want to pursue a graduate degree now.
Just that?
Yes, maybe something to make millions, like art or English.
ohhh, sarcasm.
Don’t forget about that CDHP plan while you get that degree.
Looking at the demographics for consumer driven health plans make you want to pursue a graduate degree? Interesting where your priorities are.
“CDHP enrollees have consistently reported better health status than traditional-plan enrollees, exhibiting better health behavior than traditional-plan enrollees with respect to smoking and (except for 2010 and 2011), exercise, and sometimes obesity rates.”
Well that’s definitely reassuring
Consumers driving the things we need most
“…as usual he finds that CDHP enrollees are very much like everybody else, with these exceptions — they are much better educated, have somewhat better incomes, and are slightly healthier”
So just like everyone else, except smarter, wealthier and healthier. I see.
Last I checked that wasn’t like everyone else…
The observed differences in income – and perhaps education – in this research set may reflect that the definition of CDHP for purposes of this study includes HRA plans. These plans are by definition only offered at work, and skew towards larger employers at that, not in the individual market.
“People who are better educated are more willing to be risk-takers and try out new things, plus they are likely to be more confident in their ability to navigate the health system and make their own decisions about what to do.”
This is true, along with being more informed about the decisions they make as well.