Health Savings Account Blog

"Health Savings Accounts and high-deductible health insurance plans help employers reduce costs, but the move to higher deductibles is often frightening to employees," says Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge. "We know that employees sometimes feel these new plans leave 'gaps' in insurance coverage that employees may not feel comfortable filling themselves. Voluntary products are one way that employees can fill those gaps."

"We are seeing carriers develop or revamp some of their voluntary plans (like hospital indemnity plans) to fit into this market," says Bonnie Brazzell, vice president of Eastbridge. "In fact, almost twenty percent of respondents in our study see hospital indemnity plans as a 'growth' product for their companies over the next few years," adds Brazzell.

Limited benefit medical plans are another example of products that are expected to increase as the medical market changes. "Thirty-five percent of the carriers we surveyed," notes Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge, "expect limited benefit medical plans to be a 'growth' product in the voluntary market." While most limited benefit plans would not fit under an HSA, they are quickly becoming an important voluntary benefit to cover those employees not eligible for an employer's core medical plan.

The 2006 Worksite Product Trends Frontline Report updates our 2002 and 2004 studies on the same topic. Where applicable, the current study draws comparisons between this year's results and those of the past two studies. Eastbridge Insight and Information Partner Companies as well as participants in the survey receive the Frontline Report free of charge.

Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is a marketing advisory firm serving insurance and financial services organizations in the United States and Canada.

Learn more about Health Savings Accounts at HSA for America