The purpose of this tool kit is to help benefit managers understand the developing concepts of health care consumerism as well as to provide a road map and resources for addressing consumer-directed health care benefit designs and implementations. As we know, health care costs have continued to rise despite large employers’ best efforts to curtail increases. This trend is projected to continue, forcing employers to develop innovative ways to address costs while providing maximal benefits to their employees and beneficiaries. Traditional plans have led to an “entitlement” mentality with the utilization of health care services without regard to cost and quality. Health care consumerism is a new approach to lowering costs by empowering participants with information and financial incentives that support greater personal responsibility in health and purchasing health care services.
Involving participants more, through greater financial responsibility, will create the normal economic demand for price and quality information.
