HDHP Enrollees Offered Education, Support Tools

A census by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) finds many health plans offering health savings account (HSA)-qualified HDHPs have created online tools to help members manage their HSA accounts online, access information about their health conditions and medical services as well as health care costs (e.g., negotiated rates for procedures and drugs), and obtain information about the cost and quality of health services in their area. 

Ninety-five percent of HSA/HDHP enrollees had access to account information. Almost all HSA/HDHP enrollees (97%) had access to health education tools. More than 90% of enrollees had access to quality information about specific hospitals; and approximately 76% had access to physician-specific quality information.  

Eighty-eight percent had access to some health care cost information. Ninety-three percent had access to personal health records. Additionally, other tools are offered to HSA/HDHP enrollees by the responding plans to assist with their health care needs, including health risk assessments, health coaching, bill payment tools, and mobile applications.  

According to the census report, the number of people with HSA/HDHP coverage rose to nearly 15.5 million in January 2013, up from 13.5 million in January 2012 and 11.4 million in January 2011; an annual growth rate of approximately 15% over the last several years. Most enrollment gains in the HSA/HDHP market in 2013 were in the large group market. The share of HSA/HDHP covered lives enrolled in large group plans jumped from 59% in January 2012 to 68% in January 2013. Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) were the most popular HSA/HDHP product types, representing more than 90% of plans.