Business
Wisconsin plans agree to provide consumers out-of-pocket estimates
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 16, 2008
The 17 member insurers of the Wisconsin Assn. of Health Plans have agreed to give members estimates of their out-of-pocket costs for visits to network doctors, as well as hospital stays and procedures. By Sept. 1, the association said, member plans will have a system to tell customers their costs for care and notify them that those estimates are available.
"All the health plans got together and said, 'The most important information we can provide to our most important public, which is customers, is what are the costs of services to them,' " said association Senior Executive Officer Phil Dougherty.
"They agreed they had the technology and wherewithal, based on information they are given and are able to obtain, to provide pretty good estimates," he said. A few of the plans already have the out-of-pocket cost estimations available, he said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/06/16/bibf0616.htm.
