To help combat the rising cost of healthcare, the trend of “Consumer Driven Healthcare” started in the early 2000’s. In short, it is a way to put some of the burden of the healthcare cost on the employee in hopes they will become better educated and make better choices with their healthcare – through better habits, using generic instead of brand name drugs, shopping doctors, trying physical therapy rather than surgery, etc. Here is an article that discusses consumer driven health care a bit more. https://online.wsj.com/ad/employeebenefits-consumer_driven_plans.html
What is the difference between a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), a Health Savings Account (HAS) and a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and how do these help control costs?
How can selecting a high-deductible medical plan help controls costs for employers – and what is the downside of these plans?
How do HMO’s control costs over PPO medical plans?
Should employers be sponsoring employee wellness plans (health challenges, gym memberships, etc.)? Why or why not?