This paper presents findings from the 2011 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, as well as earlier surveys, examining the availability of health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) and health savings account (HSA)-eligible plans (consumer-driven health plans, or CDHPs). It also looks at employer and individual contribution behavior. According to the 2011 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 8.4 million adults ages 21-64, or 7 percent of the population, was enrolled in a CDHP. An additional 7.3 million reported that they were eligible for an HSA but did not have such an account. Thus, overall, 15.8 million adults ages 21-64 with private insurance, representing 13.1 percent of that market, were either in a CDHP or an HSA-eligible plan but had not opened the account. When their children are counted, about 21 million individuals with private insurance, representing about 12 percent of the market, were either in a CDHP or an HSA-eligible plan. Two-thirds of workers with an HRA or HSA reported that their employer contributed to the account in 2011. Among workers with an employer contribution, those with employee-only coverage saw their annual employer contributions increase between 2006 and 2008, but fall in 2009 and 2011. Between 2006 and 2008, the percentage reporting that their employer contributed $1,000 or more to the account increased from 26 percent to 37 percent. It fell to 32 percent in 2009 and to 24 percent in 2011. The percentage of workers with an employer contribution of $200-$499 increased from 14 percent to 22 percent between 2009 and 2011. Among workers with family coverage, employer contribution levels were unchanged between 2010 and 2011. The percentage reporting a contribution of $1,000 or more was 64 percent in 2011. Individuals’ contributions to HSA plans have increased. Between 2006 and 2011, the percentage of individuals with employee-only coverage contributing nothing to an HSA decreased from 28 percent to 11 percent. In contrast, the percentage contributing $1,500 or more increased from 21 percent in 2006 to 44 percent in 2011. Among persons with family coverage, contribution levels were unchanged in 2011, and, in contrast to individual coverage, there are no observed long-term trends toward higher contributions. The percentage not making any contributions was unchanged at 10 percent in 2011. The percentage contributing less than $500 was 9 percent, while the percentage contributing $1,500 or more was 54 percent. A greater percentage of individuals with family coverage than with individual coverage contribute $1,500 or more, which is expected because deductibles are higher for family coverage. The PDF for the above title, published in the February 2012 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another February 2012 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Labor-force Participation Rates of the Population Age 55 and Older, 2011: After the Economic Downturn.”
