Writing in Employee Benefit Adviser magazine, OptumHealth’s Carlos Hernandez has some firsthand advice on talking about consumer-directed health to people with chronic conditions.

As I begin a presentation on consumer-directed health plans to a roomful of employees, I can usually pick out those with chronic diseases, like cancer, heart disease or diabetes or other chronic conditions. They tend to be the most anxious-looking - wondering how the new plan will affect their ability to manage their conditions.

I'm a veteran of the health benefits business, and I am a diabetic, diagnosed as a child more than 30 years ago. So I have been in their shoes. I often weave my personal experience into my presentations. I also point to studies of CDHP experience that show chronically ill people get the care they need.

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