40% of Large Firms Will Offer Consumer-Driven Plans in 2004
American Medical News
Dec. 23/30, 2002
More big firms want Web-based health plans
By Tyler Chin
Based on a survey of 25 large companies with more than 1,000 employees each, 16% of large employers will offer Web-based health plans to employees in 2003. This is up from 4% in 2002, according to estimates by the Cambridge, Mass.-based consulting firm. That number will rise to 40% in 2004, the firm said.
Large employers are interested in offering Web-based plans because they are looking for ways to lower health care costs, said Bradford J. Holmes, the firm's research director.
Web-based plans let patients contribute a certain amount toward their health care costs and control how they spend money in their personal health care spending accounts
http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_02/bisb1223.htm
Comment: Consumer-driven health care is here. Are we ready to accept the consequences of shifting costs to those with the greatest health care needs?