Survey Finds CDHP Use Ticking Up

March 11, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Interest in consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) continues to expand among employers and their workers, according to a survey conducted by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health.

The survey found just over half (54%) of companies now offer a CDHP, and that number is expected to grow to 61% in 2011. Nearly half (46%) of companies that offer a CDHP report at least 20% of their workers enrolled - an increase of nearly 70% in five years.

Companies with higher levels of CDHP enrollment also report lower costs, according to a press release. Those with at least 50% of their workers enrolled in a CDHP report average annual costs per employee of nearly $1,000 less than at non-CDHP companies. Similarly, nearly 60% of survey respondents indicate their workers pay premiums that are at least 30% less than those for traditional copay plans.

Other survey findings include:

• In 2010, 38% of companies will offer a health savings account (HSA), with an additional 7% expected to do so in 2011.
• In 2010, 46% of employers will provide coverage for use of retail clinics, up from 36% in 2009.
• In 2010, 57% of employers will encourage plans and providers to provide workers with access to online medical records, up from 54% in 2009.