Aug. 30, 2006: Employer Support Is Key to Success of HRA/HSA Plans
ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) and ChapterHouse LLC have released their annual Buying Trends Study. While most believe consumer-driven health care such as Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans will be an adopted solution, the survey of 20,000 insurance agents and brokers highlights the belief that these plans will work significantly better if consumers are provided with the tools and incentives to encourage their successful use of the plan.
Noting that according to the survey, only 16 percent of employers currently contribute more than the amount they are saving on insurance premiums into HRA/HSA plans, NAHU Executive Vice President and CEO Janet Trautwein said, "Creating real financial incentives is the best way to make consumer-directed health care work." Trautwein added, "If we want employees to be active participants in their own care, then we must make it financially worth their while to do so."