More than 13.5 million Americans are covered by Health Savings Account-eligible insurance plans, a more than 18 percent increase since last year, according to a survey by America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade association.
The census also found that the vast majority of HSA plans provide patients with important decision-support tools to help them make more informed health care decisions.
Health Savings Accounts were authorized starting in January 2004. Since then, AHIP has conducted an annual census of the number of people covered by health savings account/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs). This year’s census shows that enrollment in HSA plans has tripled over the last five years, from 4.5 million enrollees in January 2007 to 13.5 million in January 2012.
“Millions of individuals, families and employers have chosen an HSA plan for the affordable, high-quality coverage these plans provide,” Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP, said in a statement. “HSA plans are providing patients with information and resources to make more informed health care decisions.”
Key findings from the census include:
· The number of people with HSA coverage rose to more than 13.5 in January 2012, up from 11.4 million in January 2011, 10.0 million in January 2010, 8.0 million in January 2009, and 6.1 million in January 2008.
· Between January 2011 and January 2012, the fastest growing market for HSA plans was for large-group coverage, which rose by 26 percent, followed by small-group coverage, which grew by 9 percent.
· In the individual market, 2.5 million people are enrolled in HSA plans, while approximately 3 million people were enrolled in HSA coverage in the small-group market and nearly 8 million were covered in the large-group market.
· States with the highest levels of HSA enrollment were California (1,001,943 enrollees), Texas (755,432 enrollees), Illinois (717,384 enrollees), Ohio (662,999 enrollees) and Florida (539,778 enrollees).
Health savings account plans are giving patients tools and information to make more informed health care decisions for themselves and their family members, according to the AHIP.
