Milliman study finds consumer-driven health plans produce slightly better savings of 1.5%

The actuarial firm, Milliman, released its new study on consumer driven health plans (CDHPs) on April 1st.  The report, "Consumer-driven impact study" seeks to provide an independent analysis on the value of CDHPS.  The study examines the results from over 30,000 employees in six firms who have used some form of CDHP.

The study concludes that CDHPs produce a net savings on average across the six plans of 1.5% beyond non-CDHPs.  According to the study, its findings on savings contrast with the more dramatic savings reported by previous studies.  The suggested reason for this difference is that this study makes adjustment to account for the expected effects that come from higher levels of cost sharing and a healthier population using the plans.  The study states, "After all of these adjustments, CDHP-allowed claims are only slightly better than would be predicted by typical risk and benefit-design factors."

The study did find differences in effects between the six plans.  The savings beyond a high deductible health plan ranged from -5.3% to 12.1%.