CIGNA Announces New Study Results
CIGNA reports that its consumer driven plans "reduced medical cost trend by 13 percent relative to HMO and PPO plans, even as individuals enrolled in CDHPs use more preventive services and comply with their medical treatments." The study covered medical claims for 440,000, including 22,000 individuals who have either hypertension or diabetes.
- Cost trend was reduced by 20% for people with diabetes and 18% for people with hypertension, compared to people with the same conditions in non-CDHP plans.
- Overall medical trend was down by 3.3%, compared to an increase of 10.6% for HMO and PPO enrollees.
- Pharmacy costs for new enrollees were 10% lower;
- Yet preventive care visits were 8% higher for CDHP enrollees and 15% higher for renewing CDHP enrollees.
All good news. Consumer driven health care seems to be working, even for the chronically ill.
And these results do not even reflect the great untapped potential of Health Savings Accounts to be specially tailored to the needs of the chronically ill.
Also, this is more evidence to refute the oft repeated canard that CDHC enrollees are forgoing preventive care.
An intelgielnt point of view, well expressed! Thanks!
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