A new Wall Street Journal Online / Harris Interactive poll projects that employer sponsored health plan participants will stay put during the current open season. (The FEHB Program historically has offered an Open Season during November and December and private sector employers who have introduced cafeteria plans now offer them as well. This poll was not directed at FEHB Program participants.) “About 86% of insured Americans expect to keep their current coverage next year, while 6% plan to switch or drop their plan.” Another interesting tidbit from the poll of 2,673 adults with health-care coverage is that
About 17% of those polled said they are enrolled or will enroll in flexible spending accounts, compared with 69% who said they won’t. Six percent or fewer said they will enroll in medical saving accounts, health reimbursement accounts or health savings accounts, compared with about 79% who said they will not.