Hewitt's survey of more than 500 large U.S. employers, representing 6.9 million covered employees, shows approximately 950,000 workers will be able to obtain health coverage for these dependents earlier than Jan. 1, 2011.

Advocates for consumer-driven health care (CDHC) have argued for years that there should be more transparency when it comes to revealing the true cost of medical goods and services.

New analysis from the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows the $5 billion allocated for a temporary reinsurance program for early retiree health benefits will likely run out two years before the program's 2014 end date.

Enrollees in CDHC plans shared most cost-conscious behaviors with non-enrollees.