This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
More workers at big U.S. companies could start paying a greater share of their doctor's bill because of a health insurance shift forecast by Aon Hewitt.
The benefits consultant says "consumer-directed health plans" could become the most common form of coverage offered by companies with 500 or more workers in the next three to five years.
These plans come with a deductible that can top $2,000 and must be paid before most coverage starts. That means a bill for more than $100 could replace the $20 co-payment the worker is used to after a doctor's office visit.
CDHPs ease that expense by providing special accounts to help cover costs.
Aon Hewitt says 56 percent of the employers it surveyed offer CDHPs. Another 30 percent are considering them.