title: The defined-contribution plan: the next generation of healthcare financing.
abstract: In response to rising health insurance premiums, many purchasers of coverage are evaluating the possibility of implementing defined-contribution health insurance plans. Under a defined-contribution plan, employers or the government pay a specified portion of the premium, and the consumer chooses a plan from a menu of options, paying the balance of the premium based on their plan selection. A shift to a defined-contribution model will have far-reaching implications for consumers, employer and government purchasers, payers, and providers. Providers will face changes in consumption patterns and the need to develop a brand image, market their strengths directly to consumers, educate consumers about their services and pricing, and reconfigure infrastructures to be able to respond efficiently to consumer demands.
authors.affiliation: Tiber Group LLC, Chicago, Illinois, USA. jime@tiber.com
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Emery
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000191:economics*; D003657:Decision Making; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000639:trends; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D011357:Product Line Management; D014481:United States