Listening to Consumers: Values-Focused Health Benefits and Education
24 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2008
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to (1) briefly review past efforts by employers to curb rising costs in health benefit coverage and care, (2) help shed light on consumer values and how (and why) consumers make the health-related decisions they do, (3) describe and discuss values-based, patient-centered approaches being taken in some hospital and other health care settings, and (4) present the case for values-focused employee education in health benefits and care. The analysis notes that consumer values can provide essential insights into consumer thinking about health-related behaviors and decision-making. It also notes that should health education initiatives prove ineffective, the "consumer-driven health movement" could well be doomed, especially if it relies upon fully educated health consumers taking self-initiated actions.
Keywords: Employment-based benefits, Health benefits education, Health care attitudes and opinions
JEL Classification: I1, I10, J32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation