Breaking Down Health Plans, HSAs, AI With Paul Fronstin of EBRI
Featured in this latest episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast is Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at EBRI, who shed light on the evolving landscape of health benefits with editors of Managed Healthcare Executive.
Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at EBRI, recently explained to MHE editors how health benefits are changing and why it's important.
Today, it's a challenge for employers to design health plans that encourage people to pick better, high-value care.
Fronstin
Fronstin shared that a major step forward was a 2019 IRS rule that allowed some health services to skip deductibles in HSA plans, making them more accessible.
He also discussed high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), which, initially, these plans made people use less healthcare, but over time, they don’t really save much money.
People with HSAs often "treat them like spending accounts" instead of saving for future healthcare, which can impact how they make decisions, according to Fronstin.
He added that more big companies are self-insuring because it keeps benefits consistent across states, though some gaps, such as IVF coverage, still exist.
Fronstin also believes technology such as AI and mobile apps will help employees better understand their health plans and make smarter choices during open enrollment.
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