Helping Members Understand the Value of a Consumer-Driven Plan
Member buy-in is crucial prior to making the shift to consumer-driven benefit designs, and knowing the
facts about health care usage can be the first step1:
- Only 5 percent of the insured population has an overnight hospital stay during a given plan year
- Less than 12 percent of the insured population has outpatient surgery during a plan year
- 20 percent of the insured population spends $0 on claims costs each year
- More than 70 percent of members incur less than $700 annually in allowable health care costs2
Armed with pertinent facts, employees can begin to understand the value of CDHC — and the important role they play in assuming greater involvement in and responsibility for their health care choices.
Preparing for the Shift to a Consumer-Driven Plan
Prior to selecting a CDHC plan, employers should:
- Set long-term plan objectives
- Consider multiple options
- Assess employee readiness
- Keep what works
- Commit to education and improved employee health
1 Hewitt Health Value Initiative, 2004
2 Great-West Healthcare claims data, 2004