Contributor: Don Canning

Another interesting trend is how the new US Healthcare reforms mandate new consumer exchanges that can affect consumer purchasing trends. Recent publications indicate that consumers will evaluate healthcare options independently from employers’ sponsored insurance (ESI) plans. These trends indicate; A shift away from ESI’s towards exchanges for choice, convenience and affordability. Many will evaluate ESI’s against new exchanges as well as most lower-income and part time workers will engage public or private exchanges. As employers and payers embrace reform mandates, new private and public healthcare exchanges will emerge changing the relationship between employers and ESI membership. New exchanges will offer opportunities for workers to acquire healthcare services outside the workplace driving a new sense of independence and consumerization of purchasing trends.... read more