Cigna's consumer-driven health plan participation grew by 26 percent in 2012, with one in five Cigna customers now participating in a health savings account or health reimbursement account, the health insurer said this week.
The growth of CDHPs has been well-documented lately, and Cigna president and CEO David Cordani says it's no surprise as to why.
"The growth of consumer-driven health plans continues because they help customers reduce their health risks and improve the quality and efficiency of their care, which result in lowering their total medical costs," he said. "Our CDHP customers are more engaged with their health and health spending, they spend less to receive the same levels of recommended care, and are more satisfied with their health care experience."
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In a study, Cigna compared actual claims experience of more than 2.5 million Cigna customers who are enrolled in either a CDHP, a traditional PPO or HMO health plan. The study found that when compared to customers in traditional PPO and HMO plans, those in a CDHP both lowered their health risks while reducing total medical costs.
According to the study, when employers fully transitioned to offering only a CDHP option, individuals improved their health risk profile by 12 percent in the first year compared to customers in a traditional plan. Cigna CDHP medical cost trend was 13 percent lower than traditional plans during the first year: costs were 20 percent lower for HSA customers and 11 percent lower for HRA participants. Cost reductions were achieved without employers shifting out-of-pocket health expenses to their employees. Notably 75 percent of HSA customers contribute more to their accounts than they spend.
Not only that, CDHP customers were more invested and engaged in their own health care. They were more likely to participate in wellness programs and health assessments and were 59 percent more likely to access cost and procedure information to help them review potential medical costs.
Cigna CDHP customers also sought preventive care, such as annual office visits and mammograms, more frequently than customers enrolled in a traditional plan.
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