Health Savings Account Blog

The resource section of the Aetna Web site was developed based on feedback from Aetna's current Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) members and information gathered from an independent survey that was conducted earlier in 2009 year. The results of that survey indicated that the majority of Americans would benefit from a resource section that contained tools and information designed to help consumers better understand different coverage levels, find healthcare providers networks, and get an idea about the cost visiting a healthcare provider before scheduling an appointment.

"The downturn in the economy has prompted many employers and consumers to consider CDHPs as a way to better manage their health and health care costs," said Mark Bertolini, President of Aetna HSA plans. "Switching to one of these plans can be a big change. But by providing people with the information and tools they need we can help them make more informed health care decisions and get the most out of their health care benefits."

Helping Consumers Get the Health Savings Account Information They Need

Aetna's new online CDHP informational resources are part of the broader Aetna Maximize Your Benefits campaign that provides Aetna HSA members and the public with information and tools that will help them get the most from their health care benefits. Specifically, the Consumer-Directed Health Care Web page provides an overview of available healthcare plans as well as basic information on how the plans can be used. The section is loaded with helpful informational videos and other educational materials.

Aetna conducted a survey of CDHP enrollees earlier this year to find out how informational resources were used and which information tools were the most beneficial. That survey indicated that many of Aetna’s resources are already ideally suited for Aetna members, including tools such as DocFind, the Aetna online provider directory, cost of care tools and Aetna's secure member self-service website, which provides members with access to benefits information. The majority of survey respondents said they were highly likely to use these resources; 89% said they would use DocFind, 87% said they would use the Benefits Used/Remaining tool, and 84% said they would use the Cost of Care Tools when they first enrolled in a CDHP.

These respondents also noted that access to these resources would have been highly valuable when they first enrolled in a CDHP; 96% of respondents said they would have appreciated access to DocFind, 92% would have found value in the Benefits Used/Remaining tool, and 91% would have appreciated access to the Cost of Care Tools.

According to Lower Costs and Positive Impact on Health & Wellness Recent reports, more employers are turning to Health Savings Accounts as a way to reduce their overall healthcare costs as a result of the economy – and the switch to CDHPs is proving to help employers reduce their healthcare costs. Aetna analyzed member plans earlier in 2009 and discovered that employers who offer Aetna HealthFund plans as an option achieved a savings of $7 million per 10,000 members over a five year period.

Also according to Aetna's research, Consumer-Directed Health Plans have been shown to have a positive impact on overall employee health and wellness. During its study, Aetna found that Consumer-Directed Health Plan members sought more chronic and preventive care than non-CDHP members, used generic drugs more often than name-brand drugs, and accessed online healthcare tools and information more than PPO members.

Aetna HealthFund members also spent 5 to 10% more on preventive care than did PPO members and had 5 to 10% fewer emergency room visits than PPO members. The results of this study suggest that Consumer-Directed Health Plan members are perhaps more informed healthcare consumers than their PPO counterparts.

"It is clear that HSA Plans can have a positive impact on both health and overall cost," said Bertolini. "As the first national health insurer to launch a consumer-directed plan, we believe it is our responsibility to provide the information, educational tools, and online resources people need to manage their health."