Massachusetts Health Care Cost Trends – Premiums and Expenditures

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Health and Human Services, May 2012

The premium trends section of the report discusses trends in premiums paid by employers and consumers for health insurance, and the medical expenses and retention charges included in premiums. The analysis shows that the growth of premiums has slowed in recent years, although small groups continued to experience the highest adjusted premium rates and increases, and overall premium increases continue to outpace inflation. The slowing growth of premiums in Massachusetts is consistent with a national trend, suggesting that macroeconomic factors beyond the Commonwealth may be partially responsible. In addition, there is evidence that group purchasers are selecting insurance packages with fewer benefits or higher cost sharing requirements, a phenomenon known as “benefit buy-down.” Buy-down can result in lower observed premiums, but may reduce access to care or increase out-of-pocket expenditures.

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/researcher/physical-health/health-care-delivery/health-care-cost-trends/2012-health-care-cost-trends/health-care-cost-trends-preliminary-reports/premiums-and-expenditures.html

Comment: 

By Don McCanne, MD

To no surprise, group purchasers in Massachusetts are engaging in “benefit buy-down” of health plans, which reduces access to care and increases out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Since the policies of the Affordable Care Act are very similar to the Massachusetts program, we can anticipate an acceleration of a national trend of benefit buy-down, establishing underinsurance as the new standard for the nation.

It doesn’t have be this way.

Massachusetts Health Care Cost Trends – Premiums and Expenditures

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Health and Human Services, May 2012
The premium trends section of the report discusses trends in premiums paid by employers and consumers for health insurance, and the medical expenses and retention charges included in premiums. The analysis shows that the growth of premiums has slowed in recent years, although small groups continued to experience the highest adjusted premium rates and increases, and overall premium increases continue to outpace inflation. The slowing growth of premiums in Massachusetts is consistent with a national trend, suggesting that macroeconomic factors beyond the Commonwealth may be partially responsible. In addition, there is evidence that group purchasers are selecting insurance packages with fewer benefits or higher cost sharing requirements, a phenomenon known as “benefit buy-down.” Buy-down can result in lower observed premiums, but may reduce access to care or increase out-of-pocket expenditures.
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/researcher/physical-health/health-care-delivery/health-care-cost-trends/2012-health-care-cost-trends/health-care-cost-trends-preliminary-reports/premiums-and-expenditures.html

To no surprise, group purchasers in Massachusetts are engaging in “benefit buy-down” of health plans, which reduces access to care and increases out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Since the policies of the Affordable Care Act are very similar to the Massachusetts program, we can anticipate an acceleration of a national trend of benefit buy-down, establishing underinsurance as the new standard for the nation.
It doesn’t have be this way.

Health Policy Brief
Health Affairs, May 10, 2012

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 will, as of 2014, expand employers’ ability to reward employees who meet health status goals by participating in wellness programs–and, in effect, to require employees who don’t meet these goals to pay more for their employer-sponsored health coverage. Some consumer advocates argue that this ability to differentiate in health coverage costs among employees is unfair and will amount to employers’ policing workers’ health.

Wellness program content

Typical features of wellness programs are health-risk assessments and screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol; behavior modification programs, such as tobacco cessation, weight management, and exercise; health education, including classes or referrals to online sites for health advice; and changes in the work environment or provision of special benefits to encourage exercise and healthy food choices, such as subsidized health club memberships.

Inducements to participate

Although almost all workplace wellness programs are voluntary, employers are increasingly using incentives to encourage employee participation. These incentives range from such items as t-shirts or baseball caps to cash or gifts of significant value

Employers are also linking participation in wellness programs to employees’ costs for health coverage–for example, by reducing premium contributions for workers who are in wellness programs, or by reducing the amounts they must pay in deductibles and copayments when they obtain health services. Another trend among employers who offer multiple health plans is to allow participation in a comprehensive plan only to those employees who agree to participate in the wellness program. Those employees who do not participate in a wellness program are offered a less comprehensive plan, or one that requires them to pay more in premiums or cost sharing.

What are the concerns?

There is widespread support for wellness initiatives in the workplace among both employers and employees. At the same time, there is conflict over programs that tie rewards or penalties to individuals achieving standards related to health status–and especially over those arrangements that affect employee health insurance premiums or cost-sharing amounts.

In general, business groups want employers to have maximum flexibility to design programs with rewards or penalties that will encourage employees to not only participate but also to achieve and maintain measurable health status goals, such as quitting tobacco use or reducing body mass index. They argue that individuals should bear responsibility for their health behavior and lifestyle choices and that it is unfair to penalize an employer’s entire workforce with the medical costs associated with preventable health conditions as well as the costs of reduced productivity.

Unions, consumer advocates, and voluntary organizations such as the American Heart Association are generally wary of wellness initiatives that provide rewards or penalties based on meeting health status goals. They are concerned that, rather than improving health, such approaches may simply shift heath care costs from the healthy to the sick, undermining health insurance reforms that prohibit consideration of health status factors in determining insurance premium rates.

They argue that such incentives are unfair because an individual’s health status is a result of a complex set of factors, not all of which are completely under the individual’s control. For example, genetic predisposition plays a significant role in determining many health status factors, including such attributes as excess weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Consumer advocates also caution that poorly designed and implemented wellness initiatives may have unintended consequences, such as coercing an individual with a health condition to participate in an activity without adequate medical supervision.

Another concern is that tying the cost of insurance to the ability to meet certain health status goals could discriminate against low-income individuals or racial and ethnic minorities. These individuals are more likely to have the health conditions that wellness programs target and also may face more difficult barriers to healthy living.

These barriers may include some that are work related, such as having higher levels of job stress; job insecurity; and work scheduling issues, including shift work. Barriers outside of work may include personal issues, such as financial burdens, and environmental factors, such as unsafe neighborhoods, poor public transportation, and lack of access to healthy food.

In addition, some critics warn that wellness program requirements may be used to discourage employees from participating in their employers’ health benefits plan by making their participation unaffordable. Employers might use a system of rewards or penalties totaling thousands of dollars annually to coerce employees who cannot meet health status goals to seek coverage elsewhere, such as through a spouse’s plan; a public option, such as Medicaid; or a separate private plan purchased through the new health insurance exchanges.

http://www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=69

Comment: 

By Don McCanne, MD

Altruistic employers who, out of the goodness of their hearts, offer wellness programs to their employees, also theoretically benefit by improving productivity through having a healthier work force. These are admirable goals. But employers are now playing the blame game as they use their programs to penalize employees who have medical needs, by reducing their health care benefits and increasing financial barriers to care.

Employers can enhance employee health through work-sourced exercise and nutrition programs, through work safety measures, and through programs such as smoking cessation. In sharp contrast, disease screening should be provided privately in an entirely separate primary care environment where the screening is a part of a comprehensive, integrated health care program that belongs to the patient, not the employer.

Above all, whereas the medical health status of employees should be maintained through the health care delivery system, never, never should the employer be allowed to reduce health care benefits because the employee has greater needs.

This is yet one more reason why health insurance should be totally dissociated from employment. If we had an improved Medicare that covered everyone, health care access would be continuous throughout life, and barriers to care could never be used to punish individuals unfortunate enough to have manifested or contracted medical problems.

Workplace Wellness Programs

Health Policy Brief
Health Affairs, May 10, 2012
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 will, as of 2014, expand employers’ ability to reward employees who meet health status goals by participating in wellness programs–and, in effect, to require employees who don’t meet these goals to pay more for their employer-sponsored health coverage. Some consumer advocates argue that this ability to differentiate in health coverage costs among employees is unfair and will amount to employers’ policing workers’ health.
Wellness program content
Typical features of wellness programs are health-risk assessments and screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol; behavior modification programs, such as tobacco cessation, weight management, and exercise; health education, including classes or referrals to online sites for health advice; and changes in the work environment or provision of special benefits to encourage exercise and healthy food choices, such as subsidized health club memberships.
Inducements to participate
Although almost all workplace wellness programs are voluntary, employers are increasingly using incentives to encourage employee participation. These incentives range from such items as t-shirts or baseball caps to cash or gifts of significant value
Employers are also linking participation in wellness programs to employees’ costs for health coverage–for example, by reducing premium contributions for workers who are in wellness programs, or by reducing the amounts they must pay in deductibles and copayments when they obtain health services. Another trend among employers who offer multiple health plans is to allow participation in a comprehensive plan only to those employees who agree to participate in the wellness program. Those employees who do not participate in a wellness program are offered a less comprehensive plan, or one that requires them to pay more in premiums or cost sharing.
What are the concerns?
There is widespread support for wellness initiatives in the workplace among both employers and employees. At the same time, there is conflict over programs that tie rewards or penalties to individuals achieving standards related to health status–and especially over those arrangements that affect employee health insurance premiums or cost-sharing amounts.
In general, business groups want employers to have maximum flexibility to design programs with rewards or penalties that will encourage employees to not only participate but also to achieve and maintain measurable health status goals, such as quitting tobacco use or reducing body mass index. They argue that individuals should bear responsibility for their health behavior and lifestyle choices and that it is unfair to penalize an employer’s entire workforce with the medical costs associated with preventable health conditions as well as the costs of reduced productivity.
Unions, consumer advocates, and voluntary organizations such as the American Heart Association are generally wary of wellness initiatives that provide rewards or penalties based on meeting health status goals. They are concerned that, rather than improving health, such approaches may simply shift heath care costs from the healthy to the sick, undermining health insurance reforms that prohibit consideration of health status factors in determining insurance premium rates.
They argue that such incentives are unfair because an individual’s health status is a result of a complex set of factors, not all of which are completely under the individual’s control. For example, genetic predisposition plays a significant role in determining many health status factors, including such attributes as excess weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Consumer advocates also caution that poorly designed and implemented wellness initiatives may have unintended consequences, such as coercing an individual with a health condition to participate in an activity without adequate medical supervision.
Another concern is that tying the cost of insurance to the ability to meet certain health status goals could discriminate against low-income individuals or racial and ethnic minorities. These individuals are more likely to have the health conditions that wellness programs target and also may face more difficult barriers to healthy living.
These barriers may include some that are work related, such as having higher levels of job stress; job insecurity; and work scheduling issues, including shift work. Barriers outside of work may include personal issues, such as financial burdens, and environmental factors, such as unsafe neighborhoods, poor public transportation, and lack of access to healthy food.
In addition, some critics warn that wellness program requirements may be used to discourage employees from participating in their employers’ health benefits plan by making their participation unaffordable. Employers might use a system of rewards or penalties totaling thousands of dollars annually to coerce employees who cannot meet health status goals to seek coverage elsewhere, such as through a spouse’s plan; a public option, such as Medicaid; or a separate private plan purchased through the new health insurance exchanges.
http://www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=69

Altruistic employers who, out of the goodness of their hearts, offer wellness programs to their employees, also theoretically benefit by improving productivity through having a healthier work force. These are admirable goals. But employers are now playing the blame game as they use their programs to penalize employees who have medical needs, by reducing their health care benefits and increasing financial barriers to care.
Employers can enhance employee health through work-sourced exercise and nutrition programs, through work safety measures, and through programs such as smoking cessation. In sharp contrast, disease screening should be provided privately in an entirely separate primary care environment where the screening is a part of a comprehensive, integrated health care program that belongs to the patient, not the employer.
Above all, whereas the medical health status of employees should be maintained through the health care delivery system, never, never should the employer be allowed to reduce health care benefits because the employee has greater needs.
This is yet one more reason why health insurance should be totally dissociated from employment. If we had an improved Medicare that covered everyone, health care access would be continuous throughout life, and barriers to care could never be used to punish individuals unfortunate enough to have manifested or contracted medical problems.

Growth Of Consumer-Directed Health Plans To One-Half Of All Employer-Sponsored Insurance Could Save $57 Billion Annually

By Amelia M. Haviland, M. Susan Marquis, Roland D. McDevitt and Neeraj Sood
Health Affairs, May 2012
Abstract
Enrollment is increasing in consumer-directed health insurance plans, which feature high deductibles and a personal health care savings account. We project that an increase in market share of these plans — from the current level of 13 percent of employer-sponsored insurance to 50 percent — could reduce annual health care spending by about $57 billion. That decrease would be the equivalent of a 4 percent decline in total health care spending for the nonelderly. However, such growth in consumer-directed plan enrollment also has the potential to reduce the use of recommended health care services, as well as to increase premiums for traditional health insurance plans, as healthier individuals drop traditional coverage and enroll in consumer-directed plans. In this article we explore options that policy makers and employers facing these challenges should consider, including more refined plan designs and decision support systems to promote recommended services.
From the Study Results
Consumer-directed enrollees in these large employer plans spent less on health care than enrollees in traditional plans even in the year prior to their enrollment, and the estimates above controlled for this favorable selection into the consumer-directed plans. In particular, the diagnosis-based prospective risk scores predicted 25 percent lower spending per capita for those who selected a consumer-directed health plan.
Thus, continued growth in enrollment in consumer-driven health plans implies premium increases in traditional plans that will retain somewhat sicker enrollees.
From the Discussion
Cost
Consumer-directed plans raise concerns about out-of-pocket spending because deductibles are high, and federal regulations allow health savings account plans to impose family out-of-pocket maximums of up to $12,100 in 2012. Out-of-pocket maximums for health reimbursement arrangements are not constrained by law until 2014, when all exchange plans must comply with the health savings account limit.
There is particular concern regarding health care access for vulnerable families—those with low incomes or family members with high-cost chronic conditions—which might face higher costs under consumer-directed plans.
Preventive Care
The use of all six of the preventive treatments examined in this article was negatively affected in the first year of consumer-directed plan enrollment, despite plan provisions that reimbursed some of these preventive services at 100 percent of allowed charges.
Decision Making
Our findings that reductions in spending occur through lower spending per episode, more use of generic versus brand-name drugs, less use of specialists, and lower inpatient hospitalization suggest that these plans do induce changes in treatment choices and not just access. Further research is required to determine whether these are appropriate changes, and our findings concerning preventive care demonstrate that more information is needed to improve consumer decision making.
Choice of Plans
When employers offer a new consumer-directed plan as an option, it typically attracts employees and families who are healthier and whose health care costs are less than those of people who enroll in other plans. Left unchecked, this can produce adverse selection and higher premiums in traditional plans.
Risk selection and consequent increases in premiums for traditional plans could destabilize the health insurance exchanges, where diverse plan offerings will be encouraged.
Conclusion
Enrollment in consumer-directed health plans probably will grow in the coming years, motivating enrollees to cut back on spending and producing savings for employees, employers, and the nation as a whole. But we need better information to help enrollees and their health care providers identify high-value care, and we need more refined plan designs and decision support systems to promote the use of such care. Promising developments include the investment in comparative effectiveness research by the Affordable Care Act and employers’ efforts to develop value-based insurance designs that reduce enrollee cost sharing for certain high-value services.
Existing research does not adequately address the long-term effects of consumer-directed health plans on health care spending and recommended care. Current evidence about reductions in preventive care is a concern, and it will be important to monitor indicators of care quality in consumer-directed and other plans. In the individual and small-group markets, it will be important to adopt effective risk-adjustment methods to maintain a broad choice of plans that includes both higher cost-sharing and lower cost-sharing options.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/31/5/1009.full

And…

Growth of Consumer-Directed Health Plans to One-Half of All Employer-Sponsored Insurance Could Save $57 Billion Annually

California HealthCare Foundation
May 2012
This link is to a press release on the Health Affairs article above. It also includes a link which allows free access to the full article.
http://www.chcf.org/publications/2012/05/growth-cdhp-could-save

The title of this Health Affairs report seems to encourage the widespread adoption of consumer-directed health plans (CHDPs) – a theme repeated in the press coverage of this article. Yet much has been written about the adverse consequences of these plans, especially their impact in reducing the use of beneficial preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services.
Even if it were true that putting half of all employees and their dependents into CHDPs would reduce spending by $57 billion, that is only two percent of our national health expenditures. Reducing spending by causing harm is terrible policy, especially when other measures such as single payer would reduce harm instead, while controlling costs more effectively.
The California HealthCare Foundation release (link above) included a Reader Comment by Betty Hillman. Her insightful words express our concerns:

“CDHPs only work well for the healthy. Speaking for someone who works for a top 100 company that offers ONLY CDHPs, and has chronic health issues of genetic origin, I am officially defined as ‘underinsured’, because my out-of-pocket costs are very high; they have nearly bankrupted me, even while working in a professional position.
“It is yet another way for corporations to reduce spending on employees and give it to investors. Welcome [back] to the 19th century. The almighty dollar continues to reign supreme. It is sad that so many do not understand that there is no way that corporations, inc insurance companies, will ever provide low-cost insurance without being forced to — by the government or the people, take your choice.”

Even if efforts were made to force them to, the insurance companies can no longer provide low-cost insurance that provides adequate financial protection for those who need health care. Ms. Hillman would be served best if we were to adopt an Improved Medicare for All.