DPC doctor who set up a clinic near the government offices. The results speak for themselves. Similarly, telemedicine could be incorporated into employer plans. Telemedicine visits or other forms of care at a distance over telecommunications could be easy ways to cut down on unnecessary visits or help better catch symptoms of illnesses earlier. Compared to an average of $114 for an in-office visit, a patient can connect with a physician through telemedicine for $38. Employers are facing tough decisions on how to rein in costs. Yearly premiums for a family plan in 2019 rose 5 percent from the previous year, topping $20,000. This is a problem because not only are the costs of plans rising for employees, but employers also have fewer dollars to allocate to wage raises. The majority of Americans have health insurance and receive coverage as part of a benefits package from their employer. As of 2018, 55.1 percent of Americans had employer-sponsored coverage. Yet, these employers and employees have had to grapple with rising health care costs year after year. In the wake of this, employers are taking back control of their employer plans and looking for any way to cut costs while also providing similar levels of benefits. Sixty-one percent of individuals with employer-sponsored coverage are enrolled in a self-insured plan. Self-insured plans are well suited to use different tools to cut costs. Price transparency is going to be crucial, and as we saw in Indiana, private businesses have the power to make changes on their own. There are also tools such as direct primary care and telemedicine, which employers can use to lower costs. Employers, specifically those who offer a self-funded plan, have the power and several tools to make meaningful cost reductions in employer plans while not sacrificing any of the quality employees expect.
I N D I A N A A N D T H E F I G H T TO LO W E R H E A LT H C A R E C O S T S
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JORDAN ROBERTS
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Jordan Roberts joined the Locke Foundation in the summer of 2018 as Health Care Policy Analyst. He analyzes state and national health policy issues with an eye toward removing government barriers and instead infusing health care with free-market solutions that encourage competition, expand access to quality care, and lower costs. Jordan is a Charlotte native. He holds two Political Science degrees from Appalachian State University: a B.S. in American Government and an M.A. in American Politics.
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ShopHealth | Vol. 2 | Issue 3
