FIELD NOTES
H E A LT H C A R E
Healthcare’s Retail Revolution story by WILL MADDOX
R
rising insurance costs and in-home and curbside innovations are causing consumers to look more closely at their options for healthcare. Gone are the days when receiving medical care at a retail development storefront was considered subpar, and health systems are quickly leaning into the consumerism that has inundated the industry. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, deductibles (the minimum out-of-pocket expenses paid before insurance kicks in) have jumped 68.4 percent since 2011, from an average of $991 to $1,669. Last year, 85 percent of all workers had a deductible in their plan, up from 74 percent a decade ago, and for companies with fewer than 200 employees, the average deductible is $2,379, compared to $1,397 for larger companies. These expenses, in addition to the appeal of new, more-convenient services and a societal push for wellness, are spurring consumers to shop around for insurance providers and plans. They want more locations, extended hours, and quality services with little increase in costs. There’s also a growing demand for transpar-
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P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M A R T Í S A N S ; C O U R T E S Y O F T E X A S H E A LT H R E S O U R C E S
With consumers more likely to shop around for healthcare, providers are reinventing their centers to improve the experience.
DCEOMAGAZINE.COM
2/1/22 9:39 AM
