Taking on Affordability

The cost of U.S. health care continued to increase at more than twice the pace of inflation in 2006. Rising costs are straining individuals, families, businesses, and our national economy.

While many in the industry are focused on finding innovations that both improve affordability and advance the excellence of care, we have an advantage because we build on the inherent efficiencies of our coordinated care and coverage model. That means at Group Health Cooperative we are able to put more of every premium dollar into patient care than other major carriers in the state, according to data compiled from reports to the state by the Washington State Hospital Association for 2005, the latest year for which figures are available.

For example, we invest in information technology to help our primary care doctors and specialists coordinate care and minimize such problems as unnecessary, duplicated tests.

We also continue to establish closer partnerships with employers and purchasers to develop flexible plans and pricing that meet their needs. We launched more deductible plans, with more competitive premiums in 2006. Through our subsidiary carrier Group Health Options, Inc., we introduced a PPO plan in Spokane with flexible benefit structures. We developed a popular new Value Plan for state employees: a high-deductible, lower-premium offering that makes Group Health the lowest-cost option for this large group. And we laid the groundwork for our self-insured offering, which is now available.

We're also leading the way in one of the most promising of all affordability solutions — helping people stay healthy in the first place.