Next year will be a big one for design as more benefits advisors and employers break away from incremental additions and subtractions and begin to move in very new directions. (Illustration: Faye Rogers)
December is a month for celebration, reflection and expectation. We decided to leave the first two to others and focus on the year to come in five categories: technology, plan design, management, cost control and broker business.
We cast our net far and wide, soliciting our readers’ input on significant events and trends for 2019. We spoke with consultants, health care executives, benefits and HR managers, vendors and some who position themselves simply as seers. After culling the responses, we offer our best highlights of what’s to come in 2019. Thanks to all who participated. Once again, we were buoyed by your enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. Here’s to a great 2019!
Technology: More work for machines, higher quality for humans
Insurance and health care held out against technology as long as they could, but once they came around, the marketplace was more than ready. The big trend for 2019 in health care will be telemedicine. Building on a strong showing in 2018, telemedicine is blockchaining its way throughout medical care and finding its way into most benefits packages as its applications increase. It’s facilitating better care for employees, where and when they want it. Onsite clinics, remote physician services, and mobile apps connecting patient to provider will all proliferate. Small businesses will unite to access such services.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
