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May 14, 2003 at 08:00 PM
NU Online News Service, May 14, 2003, 12:50 p.m. EDT – Fewer than 40% of U.S. household heads want to enroll in defined-contribution health plans, according to results of a survey sponsored by the Pareto Health Group, Washington.
Researchers at The Dieringer Research Group, Milwaukee, interviewed a sample that included a large number of heads of household under age 65 who have employer-sponsored health insurance. The researchers asked the household heads how likely they were to enroll in defined-contribution or “consumer-directed” health plans.
Defined-contribution health plans typically combine high-deductible health insurance with employer-funded personal care accounts for routine medical expenses. Many of the plans also offer Web-based information to help participants shop for health care.
Only 15% of the household heads told researchers they were very likely to enroll in defined-contribution plans, and 24% said they were somewhat likely to do so. Sixty-one percent said they were not likely to enroll in defined-contribution health plans.
Pareto says related interviews of mothers suggest that the market for defined-contribution plans could get bigger.
