More Companies Are Affording Consumer-Directed Health Insurance Plans

The number of employers offering consumer-directed health insurance plans continues to grow. However, those companies that are most effective at controlling health care costs are combining these plans with other health-related strategy. Those are among the major findings in an annual survey conducted by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health.

"Curbing health care cost increases is a mystery for employers, and consumer-directed health plans are only one piece," said Ted Nussbaum, Watson Wyatt's director of group and health care consulting in North America. "Employers can offer these plans, but it takes more than that to get employees to enroll. Filling in the missing pieces of quality, health management and education will not only help employers solve the puzzle, but also make these plans more attractive to employees."

In addition, employers that employ CDHPs as part of a broader health improvement strategy have made greater inroads into controlling health cost increases. Companies that are best at controlling costs are more focused on adopting approaches that involve quality, health improvement and productivity, data and evidence, and the appropriate use of health care services.