BLOOMFIELD, Conn., April 23, 2014 - Consumer driven health plans are helping literally millions of American workers and their employers reduce their health care expenses, by shifting behaviors, rather than shifting costs, according to a study of health claims by global health service company, Cigna (NYSE:CI) .

Released today, the Eighth Annual Cigna Choice Fund Experience Study  compares the actual claims experience of more than 3.6 million Cigna customers who are enrolled in a CDHP, a traditional PPO or HMO health plan.

The annual study provides empirical evidence that individuals covered by Cigna CDHPs are more likely to “own” their health and health spending: use health improvement programs, comply with evidence-based medicine best practices, and lower their health risks, resulting in improved total medical expenses by 12 percent.

One employer that is seeing the benefits of conversion to a Cigna CDHP is the City of Lakewood, CO. According to the City of Lakewood Manager of Benefits Nancy Rhode: “Over the last three years, we’ve seen our employees’ total plan spend increase by only two percent. During that same period we saw generic usage increase from 73 to 81 percent. In addition, plan participants are using services more efficiently, saving themselves and the City money.”

“This is happening because our employees are making more informed and healthier decisions,” Ms. Rhode explains. “They are increasingly choosing more wellness visits, more convenience care, fewer unnecessary ER visits, and choosing generic medications over expensive brand names.”

A similar experience is also documented among millions of American workers and thousands of employers in the Eighth Annual Cigna Choice Fund Experience Study . 

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