In the summer of 2008, AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) initiated a long-term project to allow detailed analysis of financial activity in health savings accounts (HSAs). It concluded that HSAs are most popular with lower-middle or middle income consumers. Using a geo-coding technique to estimate the income characteristics of those HSA accountholders, the study analyzes account balances, inflows and outflows by income range.
An annual census by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of U.S. health insurance carriers shows that the number of people covered by health savings accounts/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs) totaled 8.0 million in January 2009. The census examines enrollment and premium trends across different states, and between large and small group markets.
Aetna announed the results of a six-year study on its consumer-directed plan options. It demonstrated sustained savings for HealthFund accounts. The results also show that Aetna HealthFund members are seeking increased levels of chronic and preventive care. It also shows that Aetna HealthFund members had lower emergency room use than PPO members, suggesting that members are becoming better informed about where to access health care.
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions has released its findings from a 2009 survey of health care consumers. It concluded that consumers want better performance from their health care system, and they think the current one is wasteful, inefficient, complex and expensive. Deloitte found that they are frustrated that the tools useful to them in making decisions about their health are not readily available. It also concluded that consumerism in health care is far from a fad, and should be a central component in the needed changes to the system.
Benjamin Zycher of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research reports the available data on the characteristics of Health Savings Accounts and the progress they have made in enrolling Americans and drawing them away from traditional, comprehensive insurance plans. He reports data showing that these policies are now used by over 6 million U.S. residents and that their use is growing at a rate higher than the one at which the assets in individual retirement accounts accumulated in the first years following their authorization.