The Promise of Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Studies Show Success at Reducing Costs and Maintaining Quality

From the Heritage Foundation:

Abstract: Over the past decade, the use of consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) has increased substantially. In 2006, Indiana introduced plans with health savings accounts as a coverage option for state employees. A case study by Mercer Health and Benefits LLC, a leading consulting firm, examined the outcome of Indiana’s implementation and found generous cost savings and increasing annual enrollment.

Another study published in Health Affairs found that greater use of CDHPs that use HSAs or HRAs could result in annual savings as high as $57 billion in the overall health care system. This body of research highlights the proven success of consumer-directed health plans and their potential to address rising health care costs without sacrificing quality of care.

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