Study: Recession boosting use of consumer-driven health plans

Here's a sign of the times. According to a new study from HealthLeaders-InterStudy, more employers are choosing consumer-driven health plans as a method of cutting their health costs during the continuing down economy. What's more, individuals are growing more prone to seek out CDHPs as they face unemployment.

Health Leaders predicts that employers will continue to use account-based and high-deductible plans to control costs and prepare for growth in premium rates.

What remains to be seen, the group notes, is how the planned subsidy for COBRA payments is going affect market dynamics. The subsidy, part of the federal stimulus package, will cover 65 percent of the cost of COBRA premiums for up to nine months.

To learn more about the study:
- read this Healthcare Finance News piece