May 31, 2018 At a Glance Is HSA Engagement Impacted by the Length of Time a Participant is Enrolled? Previous Employee Benefit Research known is whether engagement increases a study of health plan consumer engage- Institute (EBRI) research has found that the longer an individual has been enrolled ment and found that not much changes health engagement is higher among in their health plan. in terms of participant behavior or expecta- individuals enrolled in health plans with Why would we expect to see health tions over time, except when it comes high deductibles as compared to individ- engagement increase with time? When to HSAs. uals not enrolled in plans with high an individual initially enrolls in a new health • HSA participants enrolled for 10 years or deductibles. To some degree, plans with plan, plan designs—especially those that more were slightly more likely than high deductibles are more likely to attract differ from their prior coverage—can be those enrolled less time to report that the a more engaged population, especially confusing. As a result, it may take time for a HSA had empowered them to make plans attached to a health savings account participant to not only become familiar better health care and financial decisions. (HSA) in which workers have the opportu- with their health plan, but it may take time • The longer a participant had been nity to make choices that enable them for the various different incentives in a new enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan, to preserve tax-advantaged funds for future health plan to impact member behavior. the more likely they were to contribute health care expenses. What has not been Researchers from EBRI recently completed $2,000 or more to their HSA. Having an HSA Empowered Enrollees to Make Better Healthcare and Annual Contributions to Health Savings Account (HSA), by Length Financial Decisions (Percent That Strongly or Somewhat Agree) of Time Enrolled $1,000–$1,999 $2,000 or more 71% Less than 5 years 65% 62% 32% 32% 64% 5–9 years 62% 24% 38% 10+ years 20% 40% 62% Less than 5 years 5–9 years 10+ years Length of Time Enrolled Attitudes Toward Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Among HSA Enrollees (Percent That Strongly or Somewhat Agree) 93% 85% 51% 49% Appreciate the unique tax Interested in a type View HSA as a long-term Interested in investing some advantages of HSA of automatic investment feature savings vehicle that can be used HSA money in stocks, bonds or for unused HSA funds for retirement mutual funds “T he Impact of Length of Time Enrolled in a Health Plan on Consumer Engagement and Health Plan Satisfaction: Findings From the 2017 Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey.” Paul Fronstin, EBRI Issue Brief 450. (Employee Benefit Research Institute May 2018.) 93% 85% 51% 49%