On October 19, Cigna Corp. released its fifth annual CIGNA Choice Fund Experience Study, examining enrollees in the Cigna Choice Fund’s consumer directed health plans (CDHPs). The study found that CDHP enrollees were more likely than other plan enrollees to make positive health spending choices, including avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits, switching to generic drugs, and learning about their health conditions.  In addition, the survey found that CDHP members were just as satisfied with their health plans as were traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Health Maintenance Organizing (HMO) enrollees. 

From the report:

CIGNA recently completed the fifth in a series of multi-year studies to track the experience of customers in its Choice Fund consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs). Using actual claim data from real customers and clients, we compared the behaviors and costs of CIGNA Choice Fund customers with those of individuals in traditional plans like a PPO or HMO. This year’s CIGNA Choice Fund Experience Study once again demonstrates that, when compared to customers in traditional plans, customers in our CDHPs:

• spend less on overall medical services,
• receive equal or better quality care,
• take a more active role to improve their health, and
• are more satisfied with their health care service experience.

Full Report: CIGNA Choice Fund Experience Study (PDF | 1.38 MB)

Cigna Corporation. (2010). CIGNA Choice Fund experience study.