Consumers Are Interested In Consumer Directed Health Plans.

Two out of five American healthcare consumers in employer-sponsored health plans are interested in enrolling in health insurance plans that would give them more control over when, where and how they spend their health care dollars, according to a new survey from The Dieringer Research Group, in conjunction with the Pareto Health Group.

Such plans are sometimes called “Consumer-Directed Health (CDH) Plans” and were virtually unknown until two years ago. The nationally representative survey is the first to identify and bring the consumer’s voice to the ongoing debate about rising medical and health insurance costs.

“We found a surprisingly large segment of consumers who desire more control over their own health care spending and who are actively engaged in seeking health-related information,” said Bob Dieringer, President of The Dieringer Research Group, based in Milwaukee. “Half of them are interested in using the Internet to compare costs for such expenses as medications, insurance, doctor visits and hospital procedures. They are also more likely to read about prescription medicines in the newspaper, as well as to respond to health-related ads on TV.”

Of particular importance, 83% of those interested in enrolling in CDH plans say they wish they had more control over the money they spend on health care, according to the survey. In addition, a majority say there are big differences in the quality of health care available from providers in their local area, an awareness which leads them to seek more control over which providers to use.

“This research proves that consumer driven health care models have real potential to move from simply being a neat idea to becoming a real solution for some of the problems of the U.S. health system,” said Brian Mefford, President of Pareto Health Group, based in Washington, D.C. “But for consumer driven plans to succeed, employers and insurance companies alike need to become more responsive to consumer demand for both comparative health information and greater control over their own medical spending.”

CDH Plans Not Just For Young and Healthy

Contrary to conventional wisdom, most consumers interested in enrolling in CDH plans are not young, healthy consumers for whom health spending is a relatively small concern. Sixty-seven percent are 35 or older, and they are just as likely as adults who are not interested in CDH plans to visit doctors, take prescriptions or undergo hospital procedures.

“The youth factor is still real,” explained Dieringer. “More than one-third of adults who said they are very likely to enroll in CDH plans are under age 35.” One-third are also young singles, and half are men, most of whom use the Internet. Since half are also college graduates, compared to 39% of those not interested in CDH plans, the survey concludes that younger, savvy consumers remain the most immediate target group.

Health Cost “Information Gap” Hits Moms the Hardest

Experts predicted several years ago that the Internet revolution would foster greater interest in accessing health cost information, but this is the first consumer study to confirm the fact. The survey also identified a critical information gap among women in their thirties and forties who typically manage health care issues for themselves and their children. These prospective enrollees in CDH plans are among the least satisfied with comparative provider information available from their current insurance plans. They are also less forthright in stating their willingness to enroll in CDH plans, in part due to a perceived lack of information.

Availability of comparative information is a high priority for women, especially single mothers, who feel least satisfied and least empowered under current health care plans according to the survey findings.

Women who are least likely to be interested in CDH plans include “empty nesters” without children at home, who are distinctly more concerned about coverage for expensive hospitalizations and who tend to be more satisfied with current health plans.

For more information at http://www.thedrg.com