Private health insurance exchanges are on the rise. Can these exchanges help healthcare move towards a culture of transparency?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan launched a private exchange three year ago, according to a FireceHealthPayer report. The payer reported that 94 percent of members utilizing the exchange know how much their employers contribute, in comparison to just 38 percent of those with traditional employer-sponsored plans, according to the report.
The payer also found that nearly 80 percent of Blue Cross enrollees utilizing private exchanges selected a higher-deductible option. Blue Cross director of group business strategy Jason Hover indicated that patients with high-deductible plans will be more likely to research cost of care, according to the report. Consumers with high deductible plans are also a key component in the push for more transparency in healthcare.