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March 2007
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HSA Market News, March 2007; Volume 4, Number 3
4.5 MM in HSA plans…Ramthum on ’08 HSA limits…HSA Bank average balance up…Assurant names sales chief…HDHPs reduce E.R. visits…38% of employers offers CDHPs…Little proof CDHPs work…Retiree health costs rise…Upbeat outlook for HSAs…HDHP minority manage costs…and more…
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4.5 MM IN HSA-COMPATIBLE PLANS, AHIP SAYS
HSA-compatible, high-deductible health plans had a total of 4.5 million enrollees as of January 2007, up 41% from 3.2 million a year earlier, according to a tally by America’s Health Insurance Plans (Washington).
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RAMTHUN SEES $2900 SINGLE ’08 HSA LIMIT
Roy Ramthun, senior vice president of HSA Clearing Corp. (Lake Geneva, WI), said he expects 2008 HSA contribution limits to rise to $2900 single, up 1.8% from $2850 in 2007.
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HDHPs LEAD TO FEWER E.R. VISITS, “WORK AS INTENDED”
A study shows that patients in high-deductible health plans went to the emergency room 10% fewer times than patients in more traditional plans, with the reduction mostly among patients with less severe conditions such as colds, nausea and headaches.
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38% OF EMPLOYERS OFFER HSA, HRA PLANS, SURVEY SAYS
About 38% of employers are offering HRA or HSA plans to their employees in 2007, up from 33% in 2006, according to a survey of 573 large companies from Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health, both based in Washington.
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LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT CDHPs WORK, STUDY SAYS
“There is little evidence, and much of what does exist is contradictory,” as to whether consumer-directed healthcare makes employees better consumers, said Jon Gabel, senior fellow, National Opinion Research Center (Chicago), and the author of a newly release Conference Board (New York) report on HSA plans.
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AVMED LAUNCHES HSA PLAN IN FLORIDA
AvMed Health Plans (Miami) has launched an HSA-compatible high-deductible health plan in Florida, with HealthEquity (American Fork, UT) acting as HSA administrator.
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