Aetna HealthFund Consumer-Directed Plans Continue to Reduce Health Care Costs for Employers
January 10 2012 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Employers that replaced their traditional health benefits plans
with Aetna HealthFund® consumer-directed plans saved $21.8 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.
While members with Aetna HealthFund plans spent seven percent less
on overall health care costs, the study also showed that these
members received more preventive care from their primary care
physicians and preventive screenings than members with traditional
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans.
The results from the 8th annual Aetna HealthFund study – the
longest running review of consumer-directed plans in the industry –
were based on information from approximately 2.3 million Aetna
members. The study compared members with PPO plans to those with
Aetna HealthFund plans, which consist of plans paired with Health
Savings Accounts (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA).
In addition to receiving more preventive care, Aetna members with
consumer-directed plans were also more engaged health care
consumers, using online tools more than twice as often as members
with PPOs.
“While health care reform is helping to increase access to
health care for millions, many parties within the health care
system are still working diligently to address a significant issue
– affordability,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman, CEO and
president. “Aetna HealthFund plans are one solution that has a
proven track record of controlling health care costs, while also
encouraging consumers to become more engaged in their own health
care.”
Employers that completely transitioned to Aetna HealthFund plans
saw the most dramatic cost savings, while employers who simply
offered Aetna HealthFund plans as an option still saw significant
reductions in their health care costs. The employers that offered
either the Aetna HealthFund HSA or HRA plan experienced savings of
$8 million over five years for every 10,000 members enrolled in all
health plan options, even though the other plan options offered had
a similar overall plan value.
Aetna HealthFund Members Receiving Recommended Care at Right
Time
Although employers who offered Aetna HealthFund plans saw
savings in their overall health care costs, the employees with
Aetna HealthFund plans continued to access recommended care at a
higher rate than members enrolled in other plan options. The study
found that:
- Aetna HealthFund members received
screenings for cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate
cancer, as well as mammograms and immunizations, at a higher rate
compared to members in PPO plans.
- Members with Aetna HealthFund plans who
have diabetes received the appropriate screenings for their blood
sugar (Glycated Hemoglobin A1C test) and cholesterol (lipid
screening) more frequently than diabetic members in PPO plans.
- Aetna HealthFund members with chronic
conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol use the prescription drugs necessary
to treat their conditions at similar rates as PPO members.
- Aetna HealthFund members use generic
drugs at a higher rate than members in PPO plans, allowing members
to reduce their prescription drug costs and generating
approximately four percent pharmacy cost savings for
employers.
Best Practices
In addition to the quantitative results of the study, Aetna also
reviewed the practices of plan sponsors who were included in the
study to determine the best approaches for maximizing the value of
Aetna HealthFund plans. Some of the common themes consistent with
employers who saw the most significant cost savings were:
- Promoting a business culture that
actively supports employees in being more active and involved
health care consumers;
- Providing tools and resources like the
Member Payment Estimator that support making smart choices about
health, spending and overall wellness at all stages of health;
- Offering incentives for healthy
behaviors and to help increase plan adoption; and
- Encouraging employees to enroll in the
consumer-directed plan option through plan design, lower or no
employee premium contributions, and employer contributions to the
HSA or HRA.
The study looked at nearly 2.3 million members, who consisted of
approximately 645,000 Aetna HealthFund members and approximately
1.65 million members whose employer offered an Aetna HealthFund
product but who chose another product. The study period draws
experience from nearly a decade of claims data.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving approximately 36.3 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.
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