Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) released a study last month that projects another year of low medical cost trends. They project an increase of 7.5 percent, the same as in 2012.
Ccertainly, a portion of thanks goes to the economy, which has constrained utilization. PwC also identifies four factors that will deflate 2013 medical cost trend:
The Pricewaterhousecoopers study also attributes cost containment to employers cost-shifting strategies to employees, whether through high-deductible health plans or increased copays. But, PwC notes a troubling complement to this cost-shifting that’s been discussed by others:
This shift is changing behavior and ultimately utilization; some employees are learning to shop around for needed care, while others forgo elective procedures or possibly delay care. A recent HRI survey found that 46 percent of consumers had delayed care at least once in the previous year, and 10 percent had delayed care ?ve or more times.”
Forgoing preventive and routine care is in nobody’s best interest, so PwC offers several items for employers to consider:
To review Pricewaterhousecooper’s’ data, register to read the full report here.
This was originally published on Fran Melmed’s free-range communication blog.
