For decades, health care consumers have been told once you have a problem, then you should go to the doctor. But now, as high-deductible health plans become ever more prevalent, employers are encouraging employees to go to the doctor first – before they get sick – and in turn the employer will often cover the visit at 100%.
This is an element of value-based benefit design which, in part, means if something works in preventing health issues the plan will pay for it, says Michael Jacobs, vice president of national accounts at New York City-based Truveris, and a pioneer in the field.
