Durham, N.C. (August 10, 2006) - Asparity Decision Solutions announces their year-end enrollment results that quantify how employees are using Web-based decision support to become better health care consumers. As employers prepare for the upcoming annual enrollment season, they can use the information about their employees´ buying behavior to become better health care suppliers.
Asparity´s decision support users - who had an average of six health plan options - overwhelmingly selected a plan that met their personal and financial circumstances. About 70 percent enrolled in "best-fit" plans based on their overall medical needs, and 75 percent enrolled in cost-effective plans based on their estimated medical usage.
As a result, decision support users also saved themselves money. On average, they selected plans that cost two percent less in total health care costs (the sum of their annual contributions and out-of-pocket expenses) than those employees who did not use decision support.
Decision support users were significantly more likely to enroll in new products such as Consumer Directed Health Plans (CDHP) and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA), as well as more traditional offerings like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA):
- New product acceptance. On average, 23 percent of decision support users and 10 percent of non-users enrolled in a CDHP (if available). Likewise, eight percent of decision support users and only two percent of non-users enrolled in an HDHP with an HSA (if available).
- Greater FSA participation. Thirty-five percent of decision support users enrolled in a FSA compared to 15 percent of non-users.
The results are pertinent to the upcoming annual enrollment season when many employers will offer new and traditional products to their employees. "Employers have found it frustrating to get their employees to enroll in FSAs, never mind a new product like an HSA," said Colleen Murphy, Asparity´s president and chief operating officer. "Our results show that there is a market for these products when employers also provide educational tools that are easy to use and readily available online."
When evaluating their health plan options, decision support users considered a mix of access, benefit, cost and satisfaction measures for an average of 13 attributes or product features. They were most concerned with financial items such as employee contributions, annual deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and prescription drug costs. They also compared the availability of out-of network coverage, overall satisfaction with a health plan, and coverage for physical examinations when choosing a health plan.
"A case can be made that decision support users are better health care consumers, by definition." said Murphy, "These results quantify employees´ buying behavior for employers and provide them with baseline data needed to become better care suppliers."
The findings are based on the 2006 medical plan year across Asparity´s private and public-sector customer base.
About Asparity Decision Solutions
Asparity provides decision support and data solutions in the areas of employee benefits, operational risk and workforce talent. The company owns patented technology in conjoint analysis and advanced software applications that it delivers directly to corporate clients and through strategic partners. The company is headquartered in Durham, N.C. with offices in Amarillo, Texas. To find out more, please visit www.asparity.com or contact Leslie Hart, director of marketing, at 919-688-1430.