PwC’s Health Research Institute predicts that, without benefit design changes, large employers will see a 6 percent increase in health plan costs in 2019, the same rate of increase as in 2018. Costs for the previous five years have increased between 5.5 percent and 7 percent.
Consulting and actuarial firm Milliman estimates an even lower increase of 4.5 percent, approaching the lowest rate on record.
A PwC nationwide survey of 900 employers in 37 industries showed that small employers anticipated higher medical cost increases: 8 percent before health plan changes and 4.9 percent after plan changes.
Reining in Costs
The rate of increase may have slowed, but it still outpaces general inflation. QualChoice is working to help control costs by helping our members make the most of their benefits and by working with providers to improve healthcare.
- Our QCARE program provides care advocacy. Our RN care managers serve as health coaches to help members get and stay healthy, and act as advocates to help members manage chronic illness.
- We work with healthcare providers, other insurance firms and state and federal groups to help PCPs move from volume-based care to value-based care. We currently participate in innovative programs like Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) and Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+).
