According to a recent report, health care costs in the U.S could rise more than 10 percent in 2007, unless companies change their plans.
Till now, the burden of rising medical costs was borne largely by employers and government. But the government and employers now want the consumers to shoulder more responsibility for their health and the costs of insurance.
The costs for
preferred provider organizations
, are expected to rise by 11.9 percent. The patients are offered a network of providers under the PPO plans. Patients who select providers outside the network will have to pay more for their care.
The costs for
health maintenance organizations
, are also expected to rise by 11.8 percent. Under the HMO plans, coverage is provided to patients if they stay in the network.
Costs for
consumer-driven plans
, where patients pay high deductibles, are expected to rise by 10.7 percent. But only 3 million Americans currently use such plans, compared to the 240 million Americans using other private plans.
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