CDHC Enrollees: Thinner, Fitter and Better Shoppers
According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), 22 million people are enrolled in consumer-driven and high-deductible health plans:
People who enroll in these plans are more cost-conscious than those who have traditional health insurance policies–53 percent routinely check to see whether their plan would cover specific care, compared with 47 percent of traditional policyholders. Likewise, more than 50 percent check if a generic drug is available, compared with 44 percent in traditional plans, CQ reports.
In addition, CDHP and HDHP enrollees were more likely than traditional plan enrollees to choose doctors based on their use of health information technology. CDHPs enrollees also were more likely to exercise and less likely to be obese compared with traditional health plan enrollees, according to the EBRI.
I have no doubt tht CDHC enrollees are better shoppers. But why are they thinner and fitter?
This is definitely the way to go.
Neil, it’s the way we are going.
CDHP enrollees were nearly twice as likely to have used an online cost tracking tool offered by their health plan compared to enrollees in traditional health plans (20% vs. 11%). CDHP enrollees were 56% more likely to have used a budget to manager medical expenses for the year (25% vs. 16%). CDHP enrollees were also 16% more likely to have asked for a generic drug.
I don’t know about smarter, but the incentives are there for patients to ask a lot of questions, do a lot of price comprisons and learn the names of the people in each doc’s office who handle the insurance. I’ve saved money but it’s a lot of work. I wish more doctors were aware of what they charge. Most have no clue.
People enrolled in CDHPs would by default be healthier. That is why they chose a high deductible plan; they do not believe they will actually use the insurance unless a catastrophic event occurs so they save on the premium. That is the marketing angle.
It is also because of the financial burden of the high deductible that people enrolled into CDHPs tend to “shop” more. Nothing is covered until you meet the deductible. A $5,000 annual deductible can be a burden to meet for the average person.