Consumers have grown accustomed to convenience and personalization. From shopping for cars to getting food delivered, almost every industry has made experiences fast and easy. It’s important not to let healthcare fall behind in these new ways. The same way consumers are  easily able to shop in other industries is the same way patients should be able to easily shop for the care they need. If you want to keep retaining members and gaining new ones, it’s critical to provide your members with ways to compare providers and gain access to price transparency. Let’s jump into how your health plan can join in on healthcare consumerism.‍

Provide a shop-and-compare app.‍

A shop-and-compare app will help guide your members as they search through categories like providers, procedures, and prescriptions. This can be an overwhelming process, but an app, like our Smart Healthcare Platform, can assist your members in finding the right care for them at the best prices. Since members can shop for the cash pay price, this is a great option to keep in mind for high deductible health plans and health shares. Your members can also put in their personal coverage plan and see what their out-of-pocket prices are expected to be. ‍

Reward healthy behaviors.‍

Healthcare consumerism is about more than shopping. As mentioned in our previous blog, it’s also about members engaging in their health and making good decisions. One way to bring this aspect of healthcare consumerism into your health plan is to reward healthy behaviors. There is a myriad of ways to do this, and you should choose the option that makes sense for your members. Examples of rewards you can provide include:

• Offering your members discounts for gym memberships.
• Sending out gift cards when they complete health screenings.
• Organizing competitions that incentivize members to stay active with prizes.‍

‍Education and navigation.‍

It is also important to educate your members on their conditions and their coverage. It’s difficult for most people to understand medical lingo. This lack of understanding can cause members to be reluctant to play an active role in their care, so make sure you equip your members with relevant content to help them understand. It’s important to do this before you start asking them to make big changes and navigate the confusing system on their own. Although, no matter who you are, navigating your healthcare can still be really confusing. That’s where navigation services are a huge help. They can help ease stress from your members by taking the time to do the difficult research for them. This can ultimately save them not only a headache but money too.  ‍

Final thoughts.‍

Don’t get left behind. Retain members and attract new ones by staying up to date with industry trends and expectations. Provide the tools and guidance your members need to be educated consumers and encourage them to use them. This will bring healthcare consumerism into your health plan, which will set you apart from competitors and make members happier with your plan offerings.