Eastbridge: Group Health Shift May Change Voluntary Market

The rise of health savings accounts and other account-based plans could increase demand for some types of employee-paid products sold at the worksite.

Researchers at Eastbridge Consulting Group Inc., Avon, Conn., have published data supporting that conclusion in a summary of a recent survey of insurers that sell “voluntary,” or employee-paid, benefits at the worksite.

The HSA law itself permits HSA holders to use account assets to pay for long term care insurance. About 39% of voluntary insurers now believe that the HSA LTC provision will increase LTC insurance sales, up from 24% in 2004.