Study Shows Consumers With High Deductible Health Plans Are More Savvy About Controlling...

Study Shows Consumers With High Deductible Health Plans Are More Savvy About
Controlling Costs, Improving Health

Research indicates there is room for further education among consumers

PHILADELPHIA, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Research released today from
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) shows that health care consumers who choose
high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) --- which feature lower premiums and
higher deductibles, and focus on prevention and education --- are more likely
than members of other health plans to choose lower cost care options, such as
generics versus brand drugs, and take better care of their health.

IBC recently commissioned two in-depth studies to learn more about employer
groups' and consumers' attitudes towards taking active roles in their health
care -- known as consumerism -- and whether their behaviors back up their
beliefs. More broadly, health care consumerism refers to empowering consumers
by transforming how they make choices about the price, quality, and value of
health care products and services.

"We are working with employer groups to address the challenge of providing
cost-effective, quality health care, as the emergence of consumerism is
rapidly changing the health care industry," said Dr. Esther Nash, senior
medical director and co-chair for the Office of Consumerism at IBC. "Our
research concludes that people are beginning to understand the importance of
choosing healthier lifestyles, asking their physicians more questions about
treatment options, and proactively making the right decisions for their
wellness. The role of the health care consumer has become more and more
prominent."

"We are committed to providing the products, tools, and incentives to empower
consumers to take an active role in their health care decisions," said Scott
Post, vice president of Marketing and co-chair for IBC's Office of
Consumerism. "We strive for optimum member health that results in medical cost
savings and this is part of a major revolution in the health care industry.

"Everyone plays a role in this transformation, from the broker who sells
health care plans, to the employer who offers health coverage to his
employees, to the physician who treats patients, to the end consumers who
ultimately make the decisions that play a huge part in how healthy they are,"
he added.

IBC's Office of Consumerism, formed in 2007, sets the company's consumerism
strategy, implements projects to benefit health care consumers, and
collaborates with business partners and employer groups to expand consumerism
efforts.

IBC's research found:

-- HDHP members more engaged. Consumers in high-deductible plans appear
to
be more engaged in making health care decisions than consumers in more
traditional managed care plans such as HMOs or PPOs. This is
especially
true when it comes to managing a chronic condition. Fifty-seven
percent
of HDHP members with chronic conditions say they are actively involved
in treatment decisions, versus 37 percent of members who are in other
managed care plans.

-- Demand for high-deductible plans growing. In the Philadelphia market,
adoption of HDHPs is growing, and in 2008, IBC saw a 109 percent
increase in HDHP enrollment. As employers deal with more challenging
times, more may begin to offer HDHPs as a cost saving option that will
also encourage their employees to become better-educated consumers of
health care.

-- Health plans regarded as a key source of information. Consumers are
not
yet confident in their ability to make health care decisions and they
continue to look for guidance from traditional sources such as
friends,
family, and their physicians. However, consumers have now begun to
regard their health plans as a viable source for information,
particularly when exploring treatment options or the cost of care.

-- Price matters -- sometimes. Overall, consumers are not yet willing to
be
inconvenienced to get a better price for health care. However, HDHP
members are more likely to take actions for a better price such as
using
a primary care physician over a specialist or changing the location
for
taking a diagnostic test. When consumers do ask questions, they
primarily pertain to the cost of prescription drugs. The number one
health care decision where consumers said they would make a choice to
save money is opting for a generic over a brand name prescription
drug.

-- Employers willing to reward workers; employees willing to participate.
Half of employers surveyed said they are likely to offer a wellness
rewards program to their workforce and believe it will lead to
healthier
employees. Nearly 85 percent of the surveyed employers believe that
the
best way to control health care costs is for people to take better
care
of themselves. Approximately two-thirds of consumers would be likely
to
participate in incentive programs if offered. Consumers also said if
their employers offered incentive programs, it would show that they
cared about their employees.

-- Plans promote well-being. The majority of consumers believe their
health
plans want to help them improve or maintain their health. This was
particularly true of IBC members; 81 percent of IBC members felt this
way versus 67 percent of other carriers' members. When asked why,
consumers pointed to IBC's coverage for preventive care and
incentives for healthy behavior. IBC members were more likely than
members of other plans to mention the availability of IBC's
wellness programs, such as incentives to exercise, lose weight, or
quit
smoking.

"We are encouraged by these survey outcomes and look forward to similar
employer and consumer studies scheduled to be conducted later this year," said
Post. "This way we will be able to gauge the impact of our efforts to educate
the health care consumer and offer the appropriate tools and programs. Over
the long run, we expect the consumerism movement to result in greater
awareness of wellness, improved long-term health for consumers of our region,
and a strong potential for lowering medical cost trends to help employers
control health care costs."

IBC offers many ways for members to become engaged in health care decisions.
For example, a pilot program of Healthy Lifestyles(SM) Rewards, an incentive
program to help members work toward a healthier lifestyle, was launched
earlier this year with four employers, and will be offered to employers with
more than 100 employees, beginning July 2009. Healthy Lifestyles Rewards
allows employers to reward employees' healthy behavior with gift cards.

The two consumerism surveys commissioned by IBC were conducted online by DSS
Research, a national research firm headquartered in Fort Worth, Tex. The
Consumerism Study interviewed several thousand southeastern Pennsylvania
consumers in August 2008 who were insured either by IBC or another carrier.
The employer group study was conducted in November 2008 among 225
organizations in the Philadelphia area. All employers had at least 100
employees who participate in their health plans.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern
Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide
coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For more than 70 years, Independence
Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the
changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.
Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently
received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality
Assurance.

Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association. More information about Independence Blue Cross is
available at www.ibx.com.

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross

Karen Burnham of Independence Blue Cross, +1-215-241-3106