Ten years ago the insurance industry strongly advocated "consumer driven" healthcare models as the best way to reign in the increasing cost of health care and insurance.  The concept was and still is sound.  Migrate health plans from first dollar arrangements (HMO and PPO's) with nominal co-pays, 100% coverage and very little out of pocket cost, to plans that pay 100% for preventive care only and include high deductibles and cost sharing on all other expenses up to certain thresholds (thousands of dollars in out of pocket expense).  The theory being that these plans will cost significantly less initially because of the increased cost sharing at point of care.  Insured individuals will receive accountings of the costs, and because they have a significant financial stake in these costs, they will become wiser consumers by shopping for the lowest cost and the best outcomes (highest quality), thus "bending" the trend line in a favorable manner and keeping costs lower over the long term.  

In order for all of this to work, health plans needed to file for and receive approval to market these plans (something that finally happened 5 or 6 years back).  In addition, tools would need to be developed and made available to allow the "consumer" to compare the cost and quality of provider outcomes.  Armed with the information to make informed decisions, the "consumer" was going to be the catalyst for controlling long term cost!

Recently I had the opportunity to experience first hand how much progress has been made in providing individuals enrolled in these plans with the tools to become good consumers. I am sharing this story with you because I believe the lack of transparency in health care is a significant contributor to the increasing cost of care and the plans that finance it.