Aetna HealthFund Consumer-Directed Plans Save Employers, Consumers Millions of Dollars Each Year
February 28 2011 - 10:03AM
Business Wire
Employers that replaced their traditional health benefits plans
with Aetna HealthFund® consumer-directed plans saved $21.5 million
over a five-year period for every 10,000 members, based on a recent
study of Aetna (NYSE: AET) health care claims and utilization. The
study showed that members of consumer-directed plans accessed more
preventive care and screenings than people with traditional
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. In addition, Aetna
HealthFund plan members were more engaged health care consumers and
continued to get the care they need.
The study, which is the longest-running review of
consumer-directed health plans in the industry, included more than
2 million Aetna members. The study compared people with PPOs and
those with Aetna HealthFund plans, which consist of Health Savings
Accounts (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA). When
compared to PPO members, HSA members used online tools to look up
cost information nearly three times as often and took a health
assessment twice as often.
“Aetna has been on the forefront of the consumer-directed health
plan movement since the beginning,” said Aetna CEO and President
Mark Bertolini. “The rising cost of health care has been a concern
for companies for many years now. We have shown that by working
together to engage consumers in their own care and by giving them
easy-to-understand tools and actionable information, we can help
companies keep their employees healthy and save money.”
While companies that switched completely to Aetna HealthFund
plans reaped the highest cost savings, those that offered Aetna
HealthFund HRA and HSA plans as one option experienced savings of
$9 million over five years for every 10,000 members enrolled in all
health plan options. Among other findings, members in the Aetna
HealthFund plans:
- Spent 12 percent more on preventive
care and accessed higher levels of screenings for breast and
cervical cancer compared to members in PPO plans. In particular,
diabetics in the Aetna HealthFund plans accessed screenings at
higher rates than diabetic members in PPO plans;
- Visited the emergency room for
non-urgent care five percent less than members in a PPO plan;
and
- Used the prescription drugs to treat
chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol, at rates similar to PPO
members.
The results also showed that HSAs continue to demonstrate more
dramatic savings than HRAs. HSA members had 15 percent lower
primary care physician utilization for non-routine visits, which
may include a cold or sore throat, 11 percent lower specialist
utilization and 9 percent lower overall medical costs in 2009.
The study looked at nearly 2.3 million members, which consisted
of 1.8 million members whose employer offered an Aetna
HealthFund product but who chose another product,
and 498,000 Aetna HealthFund members. The study period
extended from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2009.
In addition, this year the study analyzed the impact of plan
design on cost savings. Employers that offered plans that required
increased member responsibility exhibited the best 2009 total cost
trends. Specifically, those who offered Aetna HealthFund plans with
deductibles of at least $1,500 for individuals experienced
approximately 4 percent lower total cost trend than plans with
deductibles that were less than $1,000.
The Aetna HealthFund study also provides employers with examples
of how to maximize the potential of their Aetna HealthFund plan,
including:
- Designing a plan that includes
appropriate levels of member responsibility;
- Encouraging employees to enroll in the
consumer-directed plan option by lowering the employees’
contribution levels or increasing the amount of funds in the
account;
- Communicating and educating members on
how to use the plans; and
- Offering wellness programs and
incentives for healthy behaviors.
For more detailed information about the study, click here.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving approximately 35.3 million people with
information and resources to help them make better informed
decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of
traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance
products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental,
behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical
management capabilities and health care management services for
Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals,
college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. To learn more
about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit
www.aetnatools.com.
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