Consumer Directed Healthcare

With Consumer Directed Health Plans (CDHPs) becoming more popular there are several questions we need to ask ourselves as consumers.  I wonder whether we are ready as a society to ask these questions. 

I state that it is a change in culture because we are all creatures of habit.  For far too long we have continued down the “What is my co-pay?” path with no regards to the overall picture.  First and foremost, we need to ask ourselves as educated consumers, “What am I going to do to impact my own healthcare?”  When you go to your physician you need to know what the procedure(s) are going to cost, are there alternatives and what is their cost, and what prescriptions will be required before and after I have the procedure. 

I know they sound like common sense questions but if you are going to take control of your healthcare you need to ask them.  Don’t be a creature of habit.  Don’t be hesitant to ask the tough questions.  Healthcare is a culture and it needs a change.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Recent figures released by the US Census Bureau indicate that the number of people without health insurance has jumped to 47 million from 2005 to 2006. 

According to another census conducted by AHIP, 4.5 million people enrolled in a health savings account, up by 1.3 million from the previous year. 

Are we going to see a long and continuous trend of individuals unable to afford coverage or are we going to see a breakout year in High Deductible Health Plans with an option for an HSA in 2008-2009? 

I attached both links for the census reports.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf

http://www.ahipresearch.org/PDFs/FINAL%20AHIP_HSAReport.pdf

Popularity: 19% [?]