CDHP Growth Rate Reported Slowing

A news release from the Indianapolis-based United Benefit Advisors (UBA) said CDHPs grew by 18.1% in the past year – about half that seen a year earlier. The CDHPs also no longer cover more employees than HMO plans (12.4% for CDHPs, 15.4% for HMOs), the announcement said.

The Northeast region had the largest concentration of CDHPs (26.7%), followed by the Southeast region (22.9%). The average cost increase for all CDHPs at 7.3% was slightly lower than that of the average of all plan types, which increased 8% this year.

The poll found the average employer contribution to a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) was $1,481 (up from $1,310 in 2009) for a single employee and $2,857 (up from $2,502 in 2009) for a family.

“The trend toward employee empowerment and participation continues in 2010 when it comes to health care,” said Bill Stafford, UBA Vice President, Member Services, in the news release. “Employees are taking more control over health care expenditures by increasing participation in CDHPs, and they are also realizing that there are financial benefits – in addition to health benefits – of participating in wellness programs.”

Other survey findings include: 

• the average employee contribution for plans with contributions for all plan types is $113 for single (up from $105 in 2009) and $443 ($419 in 2009) for family;
• PPO plans have nearly two-thirds of all enrolled employees (65.7%);
• more than three-fourths of all wellness plans (77.1%) offered a health risk assessment;
• of all plans in the Northeast, 81.7% still have 100% coinsurance; and
• 52.9% of all covered employees also elected to cover their dependents.

The UBA poll covers 17,113 plans from 11,413, employers. UBA is an alliance of more than 145 premier independent benefit advisory firms with offices in more than 165 cities throughout the U.S, Canada, and the U.K.

More infomation about the poll is at http://www.ubabenefits.com/Resources/NationalSurveys/tabid/1138/Default.aspx.