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CCH® BENEFITS — 11/16/09

Percentage Of Employers Contributing To CDHPs Drops To 63%

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: The percentage of employers making contributions to employees’ health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) dropped from 67% in 2008 to 63% in 2009, according to research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The November 2009 EBRI Notes also reported that the percentage of workers with employee-only coverage reporting that their employer contributed $1,000 or more to their account fell from 37% to 32%. In addition, the percentage of workers with employer contributions of less than $200 increased from 3% to 8%.

However, EBRI found that among workers with family coverage, the percentage of workers receiving an employer contribution of $1,000 or more increased from 59% in 2008 to 73% in 2009.

The EBRI survey noted that the amount of money that individuals have accumulated in their HRAs or HSAs has grown over time. The percentage of individuals reporting an account balance of at least $1,000 increased from 25% in 2006 to 47% in 2009. Also, the percentage of individuals reporting that they had nothing in their account declined from 14% in 2006 to 6% in 2009.

The EBRI survey also found the following:

• Approximately 5 million Americans with private health insurance, or 4% of the population, was enrolled in an HRA or HSA in 2009, up from 1% in 2006.
• Among individuals with employer-sponsored health insurance and a choice of health care plans, 39% were eligible to enroll in a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) in 2009, up from 33% in 2006.
• The amount of money that individuals have rolled over from year to year has grown, according to EBRI. Those reporting a rollover of $1,500 or more increased from 13% in 2006 to 31% in 2009.

For more information on the article, Availability, Contributions, Account Balances, and Rollovers in Account-Based Health Plans, 2006–2009, visit http://www.ebri.org.

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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