The 2nd annual EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey, 2006: early experience with high-deductible and consumer-driven health plans.

This paper presents findings from the EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey, 2006, the second annual version of this survey. The online survey of 3,158 privately insured adults ages 21-64 was conducted to provide nationally representative data regarding the growth of consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), and their impact on the behavior and attitudes of health care consumers. The survey found that enrollment in consumer-driven plans remains low, and satisfaction continues to lag when compared with more comprehensive health insurance. The survey also found that, despite the expectations of some policymakers that the lower premiums and tax benefits of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) would substantially reduce the number of people without health insurance, adults in these plans were no more likely to have been uninsured before enrolling in their plans than are those with more comprehensive insurance coverage.