Studies Find Respondents In CDHC, HSA Programs Are More Actively Involved With The Process, Have Better Outlook

Continuing a reporting trend first spotted by www.hsafinder.com in September, respondents with Health Savings Accounts and CDHC offerings are more actively involved in their healthcare efforts.

In its own poll of 5,000+ HSA users, the website’s parent, Information Strategies, Inc., (ISI) surfaced a growing involvement by HSA users in medical procedures, costs, choice of providers and other aspects of the healthcare protocol.  The results were statistically higher than with other, more traditional plans.

According to the insurance provider’s 2005 Customer Satisfaction Survey, consumers enrolled in Lumenos' consumer-driven health plans are more actively involved with their health and actually feel healthier since joining a Lumenos CDHC health plan.

Fifty-three percent of Lumenos consumers reported increased knowledge of managing their health care since joining Lumenos, significantly more than members of other, more traditional health plans. In addition, more than a third of Lumenos consumers improved health-related behaviors, such as exercise and eating healthier, since joining the Lumenos plan, compared to one-quarter in other health plans.

The Lumenos plans give consumers control of their routine health care dollars by providing an account that can be funded by the employer, by the employee or by both. In addition, the plans offer an integrated and incentivized health improvement approach that features personalized services and access to a wide array of online health tools. In fact, a third of the consumers who reported they are more knowledgeable about their health said the primary reason was the availability of health information. Compared to 2004, the percent of Lumenos consumers who completed their "My e-Checkup", Lumenos' online health risk assessment, doubled and the frequency of working with a Personal Health Coach to better understand and manage an ongoing health condition increased.

"We're beginning to see the vision of health care consumer engagement really take hold," said Chip Tooke, chief executive officer of Lumenos. "Consumers embrace the concept -- and these results offer measurable proof that consumers are really becoming more engaged with their health care. They're not only more aware of how they're spending their health care dollars, they're also more aware of what they can do to improve their health."

In ISI’s study, HSA users reported they felt better about their provider and insurance company after delving deeper into the process, a finding echoed in Lumenos’ study.

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