Alternatives to Traditional Health Insurance Marketing

Implications: Advertising & marketing strategies are finally focusing more heavily on the unisured market. Greater legislative  commitment to Health Insurance affordability & availability.

Analysis: Many insurers have been very creative in the last couple of years in providing alternatives to traditional health insurance.  HSA's and greater insured % participation in co insurance seem to be a consistent trend in affordability.  Insureds are being asked to more & more help control possible healthcare costs: Trying to use generic where appropriate, larger deductibles, various incentives to use certain healthcare providers, tax incentives, and various types of healthy living & choice incentives, etc.  With still at least 47 billion uninsured, this article sheds even more light on focus areas for 2008, especially with how the recipients of health insurance continue to reshape this industry. Wellpoint's Tonik program focusing on unmarried individuals with a no frills plan is certainly one example.  Importantly, I could not agree more that maybe the health insurance industry may want to follow the play book of the financial services industry in marketing and creating attractive alternatives. Some politicians are even working in that direction.
www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm 
www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2008/01/presidential-candidates-health-reform-2008.html