More than half of large employers plan to offer consumer-directed health plans next year, many as a means of lowering their health benefit costs.

More than six in ten (61%) employers will offer a consumer-directed health plan, with a high-deductible plan combined with a health savings account favored by 64% of those respondents, according to a National Business Group on Health study of 72 large employers’ plans.

Among employers offering a CDHP, the number moving to a full replacement plan doubled from 10% this year to 20% in 2011.

“Consumer-directed health plans are living up to their expectations as a way to help save employers money and put employees in greater control of their health care,” said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, in a statement. “In fact, offering these plans was the most often-cited tactic by employers to control costs.  We fully expect that employer interest in CDHPs, and especially full-replacement plans, will continue to increase in the future.”