The rise of high-deductible plans coupled with health savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts has consumers more invested in their health care costs. More consumers are looking for information from providers on how to lower costs – but many are not finding it, according to a HealthMine survey of 750 consumers age 64-years or younger enrolled in a sponsored insurance plan.

Another HealthMine survey of 500 Medicare enrollees shows that even fewer in that group are getting the information they need from providers on how to reduce costs.

Nearly half (47 percent) of Medicare enrollees want to be informed about how to lower health care costs, but only 11 percent are getting that information. For plan members 64-years-old and under, 54 percent desire that information, but only 29 percent receive cost guidance today.

While health insurers and employers are “stepping up” to give plan members guidance in cost management as account-based health plans grow in popularity, much more can be done, says HealthMine’s president and chief executive Bryce Williams.

“Communication and guidance to help members manage costs and health will be a cornerstone issue as health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts move toward ubiquity,” Williams says.

Drilling down further, 28 percent of Medicare enrollees want to learn from their providers how to manage chronic conditions, but only 15 percent get it; 45 percent of plan members 64 and under desire that information, but 39 get it.

For both groups, they also want more information – but many aren’t getting it – for when to schedule health screenings, information about fees and coverage after service, and more information from digital health tools.

The surveys also found that 70 percent of those under 64 prefer communication digitally with their plan via email, text, website, or mobile app, compared to 31 percent of Medicare members. Conversely, 48 percent of Medicare plan members prefer to get answers via telephone, versus 10 percent of those 64-years-old and under.

For Medicare plan members, 47 percent say that their online digital portal either never or rarely answers their questions, while only 19 percent of non-Medicare plan members say that.

Instant Insights /

Consumers lacking information to lower health care costs

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