Consumer Engagement in Health Care and Choice of Health Plan: Differences Among Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Generation X Have Implications for Plan Sponsors

There are major differences between younger millennial workers and their older Gen X and baby boomer colleagues when it comes to how they view and use health benefits, according to a new analysis by EBRI. <A href="https://www.ebri.org/pdf/PR.1188.CEHCS.27Apr17.pdf ">Press release. </A>

The EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey (CEHCS) is an online survey that examines issues surrounding consumer-driven health care, including the cost of insurance, the cost of care, satisfaction with health care, satisfaction with health care plans, reasons for choosing a plan, and sources of health information. It is co-sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald & Associates, Inc., with support from seven private organizations.

The 2015 survey was conducted online Aug. 4-21, 2015, using the Ipsos’ consumer panel. Over 3,590 adults ages 21-64 who had health insurance provided through an employer, purchased directly from a carrier, or purchased through a government exchange, participated in the survey. However, most survey participants (82 percent) received coverage through an employer. The sample was weighted to reflect the actual proportions in the population ages 21-64 with private health-insurance coverage. Key findings on generational cohort differences:

Millennials value and are more satisfied than other generational cohorts with aspects of plan management that are directly within a plan sponsor’s control. More than other generational cohorts, millennials are satisfied with the process of enrollment, including the information available to help understand health plan choices. Further, millennials are more satisfied with the availability of affordable health plans at enrollment and their personal financial experience of out-of-pocket costs. Millennials are slightly less satisfied with health system features that plan sponsors have less control over, including quality of health care received and doctor choice. This is an issue plan sponsors may engage their insurance partners to address.
Millennials are more engaged than other generational cohorts in health care choices, including some that are costly for plan sponsors. At enrollment and when engaged with the health system, millennials report higher rates of specific behaviors that contribute to more engaged health care consumers. However, they are also more likely to request a brand name drug over a generic. Plan sponsors may want to experiment with targeted ways to lower plan costs among this subset of their participant population. Millennials report greater engagement with cost-conscious behaviors (e.g., seeking the cost of a procedure before receiving services) that many plan sponsors encourage through their health plan design and participant education.
Plan sponsors may have more leverage to encourage millennials to stop smoking. This research shows that millennials have the highest rates of regular exercise and normal weight, yet paradoxically are more likely to smoke. Given the higher overall engagement rates summarized above, plan sponsors may want to experiment with plan design and education to decrease the rates of smoking among the youngest generational cohort.

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Pen rhan ps t ial hes m, ostBa strikb ing y dBo iffereo ncme e in derm s og , raa pn hicd s and Generation Xers. The survey found profound differences by cohort. Millennials are much more satisfied than baby April 27, 2017 45 • % Vol. 38, No. 6 Millennials Value Financial Aspects of Coverage More Highly at Enrollment between telephone and online surveys was the under-representation of minorities in online samples. boomers and Generation Xers with respect to several aspects of their health plan choices, and they are more satisfied 42% 72% Gene Ar sked a Doc tion tor to Re X commeHa nd a Less v Co e st I ly Prmp escription li Drc ugations fo 24% r Plan Sponsors Where the world turns for the facts on U.S. employee benefits. When choosing a health plan, the generational cohorts value plan features differently. Among the financial features, Easy Access to Health Care 79% 27% 54% 62% than Gene 40% ration Xers and baby boomers when it comes to Baby fin B anc oomia erl a s speG cetns of eration X the hea Mi lt llh p enniala lsn. They also appear to be 39% 82% Overall Satisfaction With Health Care 74 p ercent of baby boome Er as s t e of hin Sek le cti low ng a He er p alr th P em lainums are very important 29% , compared with 70 percent of Generation Xers 53% 48% 37% Plan Asked for Brand Name Drug Instead of a Generic Drug 10% B myor Pea u el Fr ngaons ged tin, EB in picRI king , and a he Anne alth p Elm lan, linge morr, eG ernga eenw geadld in &c A ost ss-oc coia ns tecsious health care decisions, and are more likely to 10% 61% Familiar Type of Coverage/Simple to Retirement and health benefits are at the heart of workers’, emplo 50%yers’, and our nation’s 59% and 61 percent of millennials (Figure 4). In contrast, 47 percent of millennials think that the opportunity to save 67% 35% Understand engage in certain healthy behaviors. Millennials are more likely than baby boomers to report that various aspects of 47% 72% economic security. Founded in 1978, EBRI is the most authoritative and objective source of Reference As sk e d for Generic Drug Instead of a Brand Name Drug 32% 33% Co monen y in a su n a me ccount r Engag for use in the e m futue ren ist v i eryn im He portaa ntlth , com Ca pared r we ith 41 p and erc eCh nt am o ong ice Ge of nerat He ion Xea rs a lth nd 36% choosing a health plan are very important, but less satisfied with various non-financial aspects of their health 51% information on these critical, complex issues. 30% 2015 Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey Underwriters 35% 38 percent am Pong lan's Repu bab tati y on b/Rec oome ommen rs. The dationsre are no differences between generational cohorts w 59%hen it comes to the tax 30% 29% 48% 69% 29% Developed a Budget to Manage Health Care Expenses 17% coverage. 54% Plan: Differences Among Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Information Available to Help Understand Health Plan Stra uss, William, and Neil Howe. Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069. Harper Perennial, 1991. 13% Choice of Doctors 43% b Thi ene s su fits of rveyt he wa s pla mn, adb ee p ing ossin c ibleont wit rh funding ol of healt h sucpapror e d t olla from rs, or low the follow out ing -ofor -pg oc aniz keta tpion hys: sicB ialue 69% n c ost Cross s. and Blue Shield Choices 40% EBRI focuses solely on employee benefits research — no lobb 35% 25% ying or advocacy. EBRI Employee Benefit Research Institute Notes (ISSN 1085 -4452) is published by the Employee Benefit Resear ch Institute, 1100 48% Talked to Doctor About Prescription Options and Costs 24% 24% 74% Millennials 25% Association, Health PE rioq r E ui xt py e, rieI nn cec W ., ith H the ea P ltlan hways Inc., Lincoln Fina 34% ncial Group, National Rural Electric Cooperative Gen th eration X Have Implications for Plan Sponsors, p. 2 The millennial generation numbers over 75 million, which is currently 30% larger than the baby boom generation of about Tay13 lor, S Hum t. NW ph , re Sui yt. e 878, “Doe s W In as te hirng nett on, Re D sC e 200 arch 05 ‘W -4051 ork’,? at Co $300 per mparin y ge Onl ar or in ie s i Su ncluded as rvey Re par sultt s o fW a im the T me ber lep sh hio p nse ub Su scrv ript eiy on s.” . EBRI stands alone in employee benefits research 40% as an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan M illennials Value Non-financial Aspects of Their Coverage Slightly Less Generation X Association, Used an Op On tu line m, Cos In t T cr., aca king nd T ool Pr P ude rovided ntia byl Fina Health P nc lain to al, Inc. 34% 74.9 million. In addition, Generation X is projected to pass the baby boom generation in size in about a decade. It is organization. It analyzes and reports research 15% data without spin or underlying agenda. All findings, International Journal of Market Research. Vol. 42, no. 1 (August 2003). Mi Mill llen ennia nialls s th Manage Expenses 72% Millennials By Paul Fronstin, EBRI, and Anne Elmlinger, Greenwald & Associates BabP yr es boome orted rss a tandar nd d po Gene stage r ratioat n X e e pai rs g d in ene Dul ra les lly , V vie A.w P O va SrTiou MAsS 9% T non ER:- S finend addr ancial fe esast ucrhanges es as m to: o rEBR e im I N por otteasnt , 1100 13 in selec tS ing t. Na W , 20% 50% Baby Boomers Good Network of Physicians and Hospitals 82% 67% therefore no wheth surpris er e on fi that nan emp cial loye data, rs areoption interess, te or tre d in t nds, he role are reve of millaling enniaan ls in t d reli heable labor — the re force and aso how G Gn e en ne e EBRI informatio r r a atti tih on X on X at might be n is Suite 878, Washington, DC 20005-4051. Copyright 2017 by Employee Benefit Research Institute. All rights reserved, Vol. 38, 42% 85% Number of Health Plans to Choose From 38% health plan thaTal n d keo d to m Doc ille tonn r Abo iauls t Trea , som tmee nt O tim ptio ens b s and y Cos wide ts margins. For exa 26% mple, 82 percent of baby boome Genr es a ration X nd 79 per- Quality of Health Care Received 16%66% B Baby aby B Boom oomer ers s the gold standard for private analysts and decision makers, government policymakers, the media, and no. 6. d ifferent from the roles of prior generations. It is important for employers to understand differences in generational 28% Introduction 59% 42% 15% cent of Generation Xers report that ease of access to health care is extremely or very impor 72% tant when it comes to the public. 49% Baby Boomers Checked the Q Pres uacr litiy ptRati ion D ng ru of a g C Doc overta or ge or Hospital Before 73% Notes cohorts to better adapt to a changing workforce. For instance, employers may need to engage millenni 12% als differently 31% 80% Receiving Care The millennial generation, also known as millennials or Generation Y 26% , is the demographic cohort with birth years picking a health plan, compared with 72 percent among millennials (Figure 5). In addition, 80 percent of baby A T A G L A N C E than older generations because of different expectations and experiences regarding health care and health coverage 10% 57% 10% ranging from 1977 to 2000 (Strauss and Howe 1991). The millennial gene60% ration numbers over 75 million, which is 8% boomers report that prescription drug coverage is extremely or very important when p 54% icking a hea8% lth plan, compared 1 EBRI explo Checked Whetr her es the breadth of emplo Health Plan Would Cover Care or Medicaty ion ee benefits and related issues. 44% 63% The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) was founded in 1978. Its mission is to Specific Coverage Included in the Plan 63% See http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/25/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers/ as an employee benefit. Employers should better understand how different w 43% orkers may react to different plan design Ease of Getting Appointment With 66% Availability of Affordable Health Plans 37% currently larger than the baby boom generation (individuals born from 1946–1965) of about 74.9 million. In addition, EBRI studies the world of health and retirement benefits — issues such as 401(k)s, IRAs, retirement with 73 percent of Generation Xercs a ontnd ribut 59 e t po, e t rco e e ntnc of our maill gee, a nni nd t als.o e nhance the devel62% opment of sound employee benefit The EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey (CEHCS) is an o 77%nline survey that Doctor features and other efforts to engage workers in their health, and use of health care services. 2 Found Cost Information 73% 1 5% Who we are 41% Note also tha incom t just eb ade ecau qsuacy, e an ind co pr iv nsu og idua ra m m l er-drive init s and s iallyoun an sk d b spu enefits, fobl r ia c p bol raSocia ind cy t na hroug l me Security, h pr oe bsject crip iv ttax treatment of both retireme e r iones d ear oech s no antd me edu acat n th ioe ny . E gB eR t Iit .is Man tnt he and health y o nly Generation X (those born from 1966–1976) is projected to pass 39% the baby boom generation in population by 2028. 68% 68% examines issues surrounding consumer-driven health care, including the cost of insurance, the cost of care, Not Too Much Paperwork 46% 1% private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, Washington, DC-based organization committed exclusively to benefits, 1% cost management, worker and employer attitudes, policy reform p 44% roposals, and pension assets M insille uran nc ne ial Trie ps a la d to ns Find r e M auto The o ma Cos re E tical t on f Hea ly g aged s lth ub Care sti in Ch tute Servic g ese B o n e o e fosing ric re G d eru tti ng and gs fo Usi r brn and g T na heir me Hea pres 53% c ltrip h P tions lan . Furthermore, once an individual sees 24% satisfaction with health care, satisfaction with health care plans, reasons for choosing a plan, and sources of health Care In the Last Two Years public policy res 0%earch an 10%d ed 20 ucat % ion30 o %n eco 40n% omic s 50ecu % rity 60 an % d em 70% ployee benefit issues. 0% and funding. There is widespread recognition that if employee benefits data exist, EBRI knows it. 0% 10% 20% 30% 20% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% There is a lot of interest in how millennials differ from prior generations. Much of the research reflecting this interest the difference in the cost sharing between the generic and brand name prescription, he or she may then decide to accept A Mille ppendi nnials ax pp — ea Me r to tb ho e m do orelogy enga g ed than baby boomers and Generation Xers in picking a health plan. More 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Underweight EBRI’s No m rm eal mbership include Os ver a cr weight oss-section of pens Obe io sn f e unds; busine Des cs lie ned t s; to an rade sw a erssociations; information. It is co-sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald & Associates, Inc., 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% examines millennials and retail markets because of their spending power. Also, employers are interested in the role of the generic drug. specifically, millennials are more likely than baby boomers and Generation Xers to report that they had asked health The findings p Source: resent EBRe I/Gd reenw in t ald & Associates his pap le abor r Cw onsum uni ereons er d Engagement e ; he rive ald th c fr in H om arealth C e pr th ov ae re Surv ide 20r15 s ey a , nd i 2015. EBRI nsur /Gr ere s;e gnw ove arld nm& ent A or ssoc gani iazta ets C ions on ; asu nd s mee rr v ice firms. Source: EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2015. with support from seven private organizations. EBRI delivers a steady stream of invaluable research and analysis. Source: Source: EBR EBR I/G I/G reenw reenw ald & Associates ald & Associates C C onsum onsum er er Engagement Engagement in H in H ealth C ealth C are Surv are Surv ey ey , 2015. , 2015. millennials in t Source: he la EBR bo I/G r reenw forc ald & Associates e and how C onsum thater m Engagement ight bein H diff ealth C ere ant re Surv from ey, 2015. the roles of prior generations. For example, as p 3 lans to send them information in the mail to help them pick a plan; talked to doctor or other health professional to Engagement in Health Care Survey (CEHCS), an online survey that examines issues surrounding consumer-driven In theory, a random sample of 2,000 yields a statistical precision of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points (with 95-percent EBRI publications include in-depth coverage of key issues and trends; summaries of research employers try to better engage their workers in their health care, they want to understand how different workers may EBRI’s work advances knowledge and understanding of employee benefits and their understand health plan choices; talked to friends, family and colleagues to understand health plan choices; visited The healt20 h c 15 ar e su , rin vc eluding y was c the ond cuc ost te of d onlin insurea n Ac ug. e, t4 he –21 cos , 20 t of 15c, aus reing , sattis he fa Icp tion w sos’ cit on h he sum ae ltr h pca ane re, l. sa Ov tie sf ra 3,59 ction w 0 ad itult h he s a ag lte hs confidence) of what the results would be if the entire population ages 21–64 with private health insurance coverage were findings and policy developments; timely factsheets on hot topics; regular updates on legislative and importance to the nation’s economy among policymakers, the news media, and the public. It react to different plan design features and other engagement efforts. other websites to understand health plan choices; visited health plans' websites to learn about health plan choices; 21 car- e64 pla w ns ho , rh ea ad sons regul hea fo lth ins atory r choos ur de aing nc velopment ea p p rov lan, idead s; nd tcomp hsou roug rcre h a es of hen n esi he mve p aloy ltrefere h info er, prur nce mcaha tion. resou sedThe drir ces e20 ctly o 15 n f rC benefit pro om EH a C S ca w rraie s c grams r, ond or p uur can tc eha d d w wo sed ithin rkforce surveyed with complete accuracy. There are also other possible sources of error in all surveys that may be more serious does this by conducting and publishing policy research, analysis, and special reports on What we do attended a meeting to understand health plan choices; consulted with an insurance broker to understand health plan issues; and major surveys of public attitudes. t thr heoug Unit h ead gSt ov ae te rnm s be et nw t e ee xc n A haug. nge 4 a , pa nd rtic Aip ug. ate 21 d in t , 20he 15 , su th rv roug ey. h a How 12 ev-e m r, inu most te i nt sur ervne eyt p sa urrtvie cipa y. The nts (8 na 2 p tion eracl o ent r )b a re se ceived than theoretical calculations of same pm ling ploy erro ee be r. ne Thfe its se i sinc suelud s; hol e re difu ngs e aduc ls to a tb ioe na int l br erv iefie ing we s f dor a E ndB o Rthe I mr em fobe rms rs, c oong f nornre essis ona pons l ae nd , the This EBRI Notes article focuses on differences in consumer engagement in health care by generational cohorts?i.e., EBRI meetings present and explore issues with thought leaders from all sectors. federal agency staff, and the news media; and sponsoring public opinion surveys on employee choices (Figure 6). sa c eov ffm ee cp r ts le a g o w e f a q thr s d ueoug srtion aw h a n fr wn e oo rd m m ing p Ip loy a so ne d s’ r q . onlin u The estion esa pm a one rpdle e l o r, w f int a and s w e sre cne ight rete nin us ede g rt.s w o W rhile eho flect ha atte t vhe e m a pa g ts crt e a ue rad el p ma to rop p da eor rto ttic ions ipa minimi t e in t in r zhe e e the se pop s aerul cfacto h su ation a rs rv,e g it ye s. O is s 21 ve –r Figure 10 Figure 2 Figure 6 Figure 8 Figure 4 millennials, baby boomers, and Generation Xers. benefit issues. EBRI’s Education and Research Fund (EBRI-ERF) performs the charitable, EBRI regularly provides congressional testimony, and briefs policymakers, member organizations, imp 64 2,00 w o0 a s itsh p ib dle ul r iv to ts a a tqe g ua e he ntify s 21 alth - the -64 ins e u w rro rh ao nc rsha e tha c dov the ma ea ra lt yg h ins re e. sult urfro anc m e the thrm. ou gh an employer, purchased directly from a carrier, or Importance ASatisfaction ction Percent W s A of V T vaken When erage arious With Financial ho Smoke Cigarettes, Day Financial s Most Per W Recently eek Exercised A As spects pects Choosing Health Plan of Health in Choice by Ag at e Least Cohort Cov of Health Plan erage educational, and scientific functions of the Institute. EBRI-ERF is a tax-exempt organization and the media on employer benefits. Millennials are more likely than baby boomers and Generation Xers to get engaged in making health care decisions. purchased through a government 30 exc Minutes, (Percentage Extremely h (Percentage Extremely ange (Percentage Who we in Past Four W re drawn rando or V T or V m eeks, ook ly ery fr ery Action) oby m Important) Satisfied) t A he g e IpCohort sos sample for this base sample. This supported by contributions and grants. EBRI issues press releases on newsworthy developments, and is among the most widely quoted 25% For example, millennials are more likely than the other generational cohorts to say they tried to find the cost of health B Keaby y find B ings ooon mg eerne s rH atave ional cH ohor ighe t diff st e rR enc at ese : s of Satisfaction Overall 70% 24% sample was stratified by gender, age, region, income, and race. The response rate was 34.4 percent. As a non- Baby Boomers Generation X Millennials sources on employee benefits by all media. care services before getting care; found cost information; checked whether a health plan would cover care or 40% EBRI Issue Briefs is a serial providing expe 37% rt evaluations of employee benefit issues and When it c 40 om % es to overall satisfaction with their health care plan, 59 percent of baby boomers are extremely or very probability sa m Ap skEBRI le ed, Hea tra lth d direct Pl ition ans ta o S s l sur membe end Info vey rmati m rs on ara in gnd the in- Ma of other constit - ile torror estim uen ates d cieo s not to the informatio apply. Howevn erthey need an , had the survd eyunde used rtakes a new 38% 20% ? Millennials value and are more satisfied than other gene Baby ra B tiona oomerl scohor Gent es ratiw on X ith aspe Millen cnia ts of ls plan management that Tax Benefits of the Plan 33% medication; checked Un the der q stand ualit Hea y lr tha Ptling an Cho of icea s doctor or hospital before receiving care; talked to a doctor about trends, as well as critical analyses of employee benefit policies and proposals. EBRI Notes is a Our research on an ongoing basis. 22% satisfied, compared with 54 percent of millennials and 53 percent of Generation Xers. Also, 72 percent of baby probability sample, the margin of error for the national sample would have been ±2.2 percent. 60% 58% 37% 35% serial providing current information on a variety of employee benefit topics. EBRIef is a are directly within a plan sponsor’s control. More than other generational cohorts, millennials are satisfied with treatment options and costs; used an online cost tracking tool provided by health plan to manage expenses; talked to EBRI maintains and analyzes the most comprehensive database of 401(k)-type programs in the 35% 20% boomers are extremely or very satisfied with the quality of health care received, compared with 66 percent of 34% weekly roundup of EBRI research and insights, as well as updates on surveys, studies, publ Talkei dc toat Doctoiron or Other H s ealth Professional to Understand the process of enrollment, including the information available to help understand health plan choices. Further, world. Its computer simulation analyses on Social Security reform and retirement income adequacy a doctor about prescription options and costs; developed a budg 15% et to manage health care expenses; and asked a Because the base sample (national sample) included only 259 individuals in a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) Generation Xers and 67 He p alt ehr P ce lan nt Cho of icem s illennials (Figure 1). litigation, legislation and regulation affecting employee benefit plans. The EBRI Databook on 50% 14% 53% 49% are unique. mill50 enni % als are more satisfied with the availability of affordable health plans at enrollment and their personal doctor to 30r% ecommend a less cost ly prescription drug (Figure 7). 48% and 255 individuals with a high-de Edm uc pltoible yee B heen alt efh p its la is a s n ( 28% Htat DiH stP ic)al , r an o eferven erce sawo mp rle k on e of indiv mploy idua ee ls be w neitfih t pr a og CDra Hm Ps a ornd w HDH or Pk Being in Control of Health Care Dollars 56% 52% financial experience of out-of-pocket costs. Millennials are slightly less satisfied with health system features that force-related issues. 54% Millennials a Talkree M d to Fo rien re S ds, Fatis amily f and ied T Colleagu han G es to Len X earn Ab and out Boomers With Financial Aspects of Their Plan was added. The oversample included 1,026 individuals with a CDHP and 560 individuals with an HDHP, resulting in a 41% Health Plan Choices EBRI makes information freely available to all. Millennials are the most likely group to request a generic drug instead of a brand name, but they are also the most 25 15% % 40% 37% plan sponsors have less control over, including quality of health care received and doctor choice. This is an issue With respect to out-of-pocket costs, millennials are more satisfied than Generation X 39% ers and baby boomers. Nearly total sample (base plus oversample) of 1,285 for the CDHP group and 815 for the HDHP group. After factoring out the 40% EBRI assumes a public service responsibility to make its findings completely accessible at www.ebri.org 22% 13% 22% likely to request a brand name insC teont ada cof t E aB gR eIne Pruicbl. ic Th atiisons fin , d(2 ing 02)m 65 ay9 -see 067m 0; f coax unt publ erint icauit tion iveor , tde houg rs to h ( the 202) re a77 re5 -so 63m 12. e 47% plan sponsors may engage their insurance partners to address. 3 in 5 (58 percent) of millennials are extremely or very satisfied with out-of-pocket 20% costs for prescription drugs, base samp Ole pp— ortuni the ty to 25 Sa 9 ind ve Mon iv eid y inua a H ls eal w th A ith cco aunt C for Us DHPe i a nnd the the 255 individuals with a 41%n HDHP—there were 1,490 individuals in — so that all decisions that relate to emp 20% loyee benefits, whether made in Congress or board rooms or Subscriptions to EBRI Issue Briefs are included a 41% s part of EBRI membership, or as part of a 20% Visited Other W19% ebsites to Understand Health Plan Choices 33% possible explanations for it. One Future explanation may be that millennials may be more likely to state a preference than Orders/ 18% compared with one-half of baby boomers and one-half of Generation Xers (Figure 2). Similarly, one-half (48 percent) the sample with traditional health coverage. 17% families’ homes, are $19 based 9 ann on the highe ual subscriptiost n tqualit o EBRI y, N most depe ot27% es and E 38% Bnda RI Is bl su e e B informatio riefs. Chan n. ge EBRI’s Web of Mi Mi A ll llen enddr nia nialls sess: Esite BRI, po sts 2 ? Mille 30nni % als are more engaged than other generational cohorts in health care choices, including some that are the other age groups. And the finding is consistent with the general finding that millennials are more engaged than 15% 10% 1100 13th St. NW, Suite 878, Washington, DC, 20005-4051, (202) 659-0670; fax number, of millennialall s ar resea e extrre ch me finding ly or vs, erypubli satis cfied ations, with o anut d - nof ews -poc alert ket c sos . EBRI also exte ts for other med nds ical se its e rvd ic uecs, c ation omand pu pared w bli ith 4 c sein rvice 14% 10% G Ge en ne er ra ati tion X on X Subscriptions 15% 64% costly for plan sponsors. At enrollment and when engaged with the health system, millennials report higher rates Visited Health Plans' Websites to Learn About Health Plan baby boomers and Generation X w (20 he 2) n it 7 75 com -63e12 s t; e o v -a mraious il: sa ubs spe crc ipt ts of ions@ the ebr ir ihe .org a lth c Maerm e be choic rship I es. nformation: Inquiries In addition trole o being to improving Ameri stratified, the bac se ansa s’ m finan ple w cial as a kn lsowle o wedge ightethro d by ugh gende its a r, w aard ge, -e win duc ning ation, publi regc ion, service incomcam e, and paign 53% 10 among baby boomers and Generation Xers. 69% 12% Choices Baby Boomers ® Baby Boomers regarding EBRI membership and/or contributions to E 49%BRI-ERF should be directed to EBRI 3 of specific behaviors that contribute to more engaged health care consumers. However, they are also more likely Low Out-of-Pocket Physician Costs 74% ChoosetoSave 10% and the companion site www.choosetosave.org race/ethnicity to reflect the actual proportions in the population ages 21–64 with private health-insurance coverage. 20% 9% 10% President Harry Conaway at the above address, (202) 659-0670; e-mail: conaway@ebri.org Millennials Have the Highest Rates of Many Healthy Behaviors 73% to request a brand name drug over a generic. Plan sponsors may want to experiment with targeted ways to 43% Millennials are More Satisfied Than Other Generational Cohorts With Enrollment The CDHP and HDHP oversamples were weighted by gender, age, income and race/ethnicity, using the demographic Attended a Meeting Where Health Plan Choices Were 30% Millennials are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors than Generation X and baby boomers. More specifically, Explained EBRI is sup lower plan cos ported b ts amongy t o his r ganizations from all industries and sectors that appreciate the value of subset of their participant population. Millennials report greater engagement with When it comes to various aspects of health plan choices, millennials a32% re more satisfied than baby boomers and profile Edit o of ria 5% tlhe Bo aC rd D :H HP ar ra ynd Con H aw Day HP , p r ue bspond lisher; Se tent phs t en o Blt ahe kel yom , edinibu tor. A s su ny vr ievw esy e x dpe rsc essr eibe d ind t hb ise plow ubli. c ation and those of the authors should not 5% 61% 10% they are more likely to report that they regularly exercise (Figure 8) and that they have a normal weight (Figure 9). be ascribed to the officers, trustees, members, or other sponsors of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the EBRI Education and Research unbiased, reliable information on emplo cost-conscious behaviors (e.g., seeking the cost y of ee b a prenefits. ocedure b Vis eforie t www.e receiving bri.o serv rg/about/join/ ices) that m a for more. ny plan Generation Xers. Millennials are more likely than baby boomers and Generation Xers to be extremely or very satisfied Lower Cost of Premium 70% 35% Fund, or their staffs. Nothing herein is to be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder the adoption of any pending legislation, regulation, or Consulted With an Insurance Broker to Understand Health However, millennials are also more likely than baby boomers or Generation Xers to report that they smoke cigarettes 14% Whilesponsor panel Is e nten rc ne our t su agre v ety hr soug areh nonr their a ndo heam lth p , stla udie n ds ha esigvn a e d nd emponst artic ripa atent d te ha duc t su atc ion. h su rveys, when carefully designed, 74% with the ease of selecting a health plan, the information available to help understand health plan choices, the number interpretative rule, or as legal, acco Plan Cu hn oitce ins g, actuarial, or other such professional advice. 0% 20% (Figure 10). Never 1 day/week, on average 2-3 days/week, on average 4-5 days/week, on average 5 days+/week, on average obtain results comparable with random-digit-dial telephone surveys. Taylor (2003), for example, provided the results 0% of health plans to choose from, and availability of affordable health plans. Between 50 percent and 62 percent of 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Out-of-Pocket Costs for Prescriptions 0% 20% Out-o 40 f-Po % cket Costs f60 or Ot % her Medica80 l S % ervices ? Plan sponsors may have more leverage to encourage millennials to stop smoking. This research shows that EBRI No 0% tes is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ISSN: 1085 -4452 1085 -4452/90 $ .50+.50 from a number of surveys that were conducted at the same time using the same questionnaires both via telephone millennials were extremely or very satisfied with these aspects of health plan choices, whereas 41 to 50 percent of Baby Boomers Generation X Millennials millennials have the highest rates of regular exercise and normal weight, yet paradoxically are more likely to and online. H Source: e Source: found EBR EBR I/Greenw I/G tha reenw t ald & Associates tald & Associates he use of Consum d Ce onsum m er og Engagement er r Engagement aphic in H win H e ealth C ight ealth C aing re Surv are Surv aey lone , ey 2015. , 2015. was sufficient to bring almost all of the results th bab y boomers and 37 to 48 percent of Generation Xers were extremely or very satisfied (Figure 3). Source: EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement 1100 13 in Health C St are Surv reet NW · Suite 878 ey, 2015. Source: EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2015. Source: EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2015. smoke. Given the higher overall engagement rates summarized above, plan sponsors may want to experiment Washington, DC 20005 e e e eb b b br r r ri. i. i. i.o o o or r r rg g g g N N N No o o otttte e e es s s s • • • • A A A Ap p p pr r r ril il il il 2 2 2 27 7 7 7, , , , 201 201 201 2017 7 7 7 • • • • V V V Vo o o ollll. 3 . 3 . 3 . 38 8 8 8,,,, N N N No o o o....6 6 6 6 4 7 2 8 with plan desig © 2 n a 0nd 17, E ed m uc pla otyion ee Bten o d efe itc R rees ase earc the h I r na st t(202) e its of ute -6 E s 59-06 m duc ok aing 70 tio n a am nd R onge ste he ar cyh F oung und. est A lg l r ene ight ra st r ion esearl coho ved. rt. www.ebri.org www.choosetosave.org E BRI Education and Research Fund © 2017 Employee Benefit Research Institute ebri.org ebri.org ebri.org ebri.org ebri.org Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes • • • • • April April April April April 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 • • • • • Vol. Vol. Vol. Vol. Vol. 38, 38, 38, 38, 38, No.6 No.6 No.6 No.6 No.6 10 6 5 3 9