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November 15, 2006
Blue Cross Blue Shield Releases New Health Savings Account Survey
The national Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Association has released a new survey of people using consumer-driven health products, especially Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The study is based on Web site interviews with 3,000 BCBS consumers, a much larger sample than some other HSA surveys that have been conducted in the past.
The results reveal some interesting data, including differences between the behavior of people who have opened an HSA account and those who haven't done so. Here's what they found:
About 57 percent of those with HSA-qualified health insurance coverage have opened accounts, with another 16 percent saying they intend to. Enrollment by age and health status is similar across product lines.
The biggest differences between people with a Health Savings Account and those in a health plan that is not consumer-driven show up in their behavior and reported satisfaction. People with HSAs are more likely to say they are much more or somewhat more satisfied than they were the previous year with their overall coverage (47 percent), the value they receive from their coverage (44 percent), and their perception of being in charge (36 percent).
Blue Cross Blue Shield HSA survey respondents enrolled in plans that are not consumer-driven ranked their satisfaction on the three measures much lower: 27 percent, 23 percent, and 18 percent, respectively. More specifically, HSA enrollees report greater satisfaction with respect to:
* Access to prevention and wellness: HSA holders 59 percent; non-consumer-driven (non-CD) plans 52 percent;
* Health plan enrollment process: HSA 65 percent; non-CD plans 61 percent;
* Decision tools in selecting providers: HSA 55 percent; non-CD plans 47 percent;
* Decision tools in managing expenses: HSA 54 percent; non-CD plans 42 percent;
* Information on benefits: HSA 57 percent; non-CD plans 47 percent;
* Cost and quality information: HSA 54 percent; non-CD plans 40 percent; and
* Insurer's Web capabilities: HSA 55 percent; non-CD plans 45 percent.
The actual use of tools is higher for HSA holders, too:
* Use of nurse hotlines: HSA 10 percent; non-CD plans 6 percent;
* Wellness programs: HSA 20 percent; non-CD plans 8 percent;
* Provider information tools: HSA 38 percent; non-CD plans 10 percent;
* Prescription cost and comparison: HSA 42 percent; non-CD plans 19 percent; and
* Web site use for coverage information: HSA 53 percent; non-CD plans 32 percent.
Learn more about HSAs and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans that qualify to work with an HSA at: http://www.health--savings--accounts.com
Posted by Wiley Long at November 15, 2006 09:07 AM
Comments
BCBS has great ideas and exceedingly poor customer service. They put their own codes into boxes "Reason for not covered" which is entirely contradictory to what the doctors codes are. Reaching a "human" on their phone lines takes 40 minutes of your time and they still do not assist you. With excuses such as "go to our website","our computers are down", or "we will call you back". (they never do).It took them 3 weeks to recieve a fax sent by the physicians office three weeks prior.(a mystery?). My advice would be to seek insurance anywhere else.
Posted by: Linda at April 5, 2007 12:02 PM