The Employee Benefit Research Institute asked enrollees in CDHCplans a series of questions to determine changes in cost-consciousbehaviors. Surprisingly, with a few exceptions, there were nostatistically significant differences between people whocost-conscious and those who were not. Enrollees who checked theirhealth plan to see if a particular treatment or medication wascovered, or who researched a doctor's quality rating beforereceiving services, had lower account balances than those who didnot take such measures. Those who budgeted for health care expenseshad higher account balances than those without a budget.

Asset levels in consumer-driven health plans are increasing,even while average account balances are leveling off, the reportfound. In 2009, CDHC plans held over $7 billion in approximately 5million accounts. The average balance in 2009 was $1,419, a 5percent increase from 2008; comparatively, balances increased 90percent between 2006 and 2007.

The typical CDHC plan enrollee is young, unmarried, educated andmoderately healthy, EBRI found. Enrollees are also likely to behigher-income than enrollees in traditional plans. Gender andwhether enrollees had children don't appear to affect enrollment inCDHC plans. However, men do tend to have higher balances thanwomen. They also rolled over more money in health savings accountsfrom one year to the next.

In August of 2009, men had an average $1,620 in an HSA or HRA,compared with women's average $1,366. EBRI attributes thisdifference in women's greater use of health care services comparedto men. The difference gets smaller as accountholders age, anddisappears for ages 45-54 and 55-64.

In 2009, just 10 percent of HSA accountholders didn't have arollover. Over 3 million accountholders rolled over almost $4billion in HSAs and HRAs. The average amount of a rollover was$1,295.

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