By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Conservatives: The Utah Health Exchange is Not a Model
    July 23, 2011
    Medical Malpractice Reform Losing Physician Support
    November 7, 2011
    Hospitals Aim to Apply Direct Payments of Care Delivery to Increase Resources
    August 28, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: New WellPoint Plan Increases Healthcare Consumer’s Level of “Skin in the Game”
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > New WellPoint Plan Increases Healthcare Consumer’s Level of “Skin in the Game”
Business

New WellPoint Plan Increases Healthcare Consumer’s Level of “Skin in the Game”

Kenneth Walz
Last updated: July 10, 2013 8:11 am
Kenneth Walz
Share
3 Min Read
Image
SHARE

When Warren Buffett used the phrase “skin in the game,” he referred to company managers investing in their own companies. In healthcare, we’ve discussed how equally important it is for consumers to also have some “skin in the game,” bearing at least some responsibility for their costs of care.

When Warren Buffett used the phrase “skin in the game,” he referred to company managers investing in their own companies. In healthcare, we’ve discussed how equally important it is for consumers to also have some “skin in the game,” bearing at least some responsibility for their costs of care.

A recent Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) discusses how WellPoint, the nation’s second-largest health insurer, has developed a group plan in which consumers would be responsible for the cost of medical services in excess of that offered by their employer plans. While WellPoint’s idea doesn’t appear groundbreaking at first, this type of plan would dramatically shift the dynamics of healthcare costs.Image

Here is how the Journal’s Anna Wilde Matthews described the WellPoint plan:

More Read

Healthbox Heads South for New Digital Health Accelerator Programs
Medical Societies and Industry Sponsorships
How Google’s Close Variant Changes Can Affect Your Medical PPC Campaigns
Managing The Nursing Shortage: 3 Short Term Solutions
Plan B: Understanding Obama’s Cynical but Savvy Political Calculation

“Under the approach, workers are supposed to be given choices among hospitals, doctors or other providers to be used for a procedure—such as an imaging scan or even a surgery—each with pricing and quality information. If they pick one that costs more than the employer offers, they pay the difference. If workers opt for a provider that costs less than the employer’s price, an employer could choose to offer them a credit.”

Other companies are offering similar plans. Under these types of plans, known as reference-based pricing, the cost of care is borne by consumers, insurers and employers as with traditional plans but with the consumer having more control over how the costs are split. As consumers exercise the power given them to make choices, market forces – though still limited – will result in quality being rewarded and costs coming down.

Some questions remain: the definition of “quality” in healthcare remains under debate, and previous efforts for this type of plan had mixed results (apparently because customers didn’t really seek low-cost services). But WellPoint is working with online health rating service CastLight Health to provide the price and procedure data necessary for consumers to comparison shop. That combination of data and responsibility could turn consumers into players, without losing their skins.

TAGGED:insuranceWellPoint
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Growth and Uptake of Ablation Technologies in Clinical Practice

December 1, 2011

Types of Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation [INFOGRAPHIC]

May 9, 2015
BusinessPublic Health

Why Our HealthCare Spending Doesn’t Make Sense

March 24, 2012
Screen shot 2015-06-09 at 7.18.55 PM
FinancePublic Health

Having Insurance Doesn’t Always Pay: The case of the $1,700 mammogram

August 27, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?