The term "Consumer-driven health care" is used to describe a variety of mechanisms for providing health insurance or funding health care costs, all of which encourage individuals to become actively involved in making their own health care decisions. Consumer-Driven Health Plans such as Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a way to help control the costs of providing health benefits to employees.  These government provided options are designed to give employees and employers more choices and control over the money being used to purchase health care. They are vehicles designed to help cut employer's taxes while still providing tax free benefits to the employee.  The challenge is to understand the programs and select the best possible options if the ultimate goal of active consumerism is to be attained.  That is, to make employees value-conscious shoppers in the health care marketplace so they can spend preventative care health dollars to their advantage.

As the demand for consumer-driven products continues to grow, MCS, in conjunction with our partners, provides the following:

• Administrative support tools to assist employers and employees transition to consumer directed health plans

• Flexible product design with multiple-purse account stacking ability

• Single-source spending account software solutions (FSA, HRA, HSA)

• Minimal capital outlay and low PMPM fees

• Real-time access to payment and account status

• Improved member satisfaction through multi plan options

• Proven debit card transaction substantiation tools and electronic payment innovations

Providing plan sponsors with advice on design, funding, forecasting and communicating is what MCS does best.  

Our service platform does not depend on any one insurance carrier, so when there is movement from one carrier to another, the FSA, HRA, HSA administration platform does not need to change.  Accounts remain intact and claim reimbursements are not interrupted.  Employers are not restricted from choosing the best healthcare partners, now or in the future, thus supporting the optional mix of service and cost.