Consumer driven healthcare and the birth of health reimbursement arrangements.

Consumers are quickly becoming more involved in the decisionmaking process as consumer-driven healthcare plans are surfacing across the country. When benefit programs are designed properly and when employees are properly informed, they can make wise decisions about healthcare that fits their needs and can help them save money. The process of engaging the plan member has come to be called consumer driven or consumer centric healthcare. The strategy of redefining responsibilities and costs between employer and plan member is generically referred to as a defined contribution strategy. Embedded in these efforts are choice, flexibility, and the belief that plan members can play an active part in managing costs when they are informed and empowered. Communication, education, and the use of Web-enabled technology are critical elements of this process.