Consumer-driven health plans tooka leap forward last year when, for the first time, more companiesoffered such plans than offer HMOs, according to a survey of nearly2,000 companies by Aon Hewitt. Meanwhile, in a possible sighting ofthe next big trend in corporate health coverage, the survey showsthat more than a quarter of companies say they may take adefined-contribution approach to healthcare within the next fewyears by giving employees a set amount of money to buy insurance ona private healthcare exchange.

Fifty-eight percent of the companies surveyed by Aon Hewittoffered some type of consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) last year,up from 41% the previous year, while just 38% offered an HMO, downfrom 41%. Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) are still morecommon than either CDHPs or HMOS and were offered by 79% ofemployers.

Maureen Fay, senior vice president and head of Aon Hewitt's CDHPworking group, says the change in part reflects employers' paringback the number of their HMO offerings. “Over the past severalyears, employers have been doing a lot of consolidation of theirHMOs,” she says, citing companies that have gone from offering 50to 100 local HMOs down to just two national carriers.