Millennials may be rejecting the ACO model.

As prices for comprehensive health insurance increase, millennials seem to prefer on demand service purchased at time of service [aka: fee for service].

 New reports indicate that most millennials don’t have a primary care physician. Primary care physicians work as the coordinator and gatekeeper in the ACO model. They care for, triage and refer patients to specialists as needed. Instead they seek care on demand from walk-in clinics and urgent care centers as needed. Both are fee for service business models.

Millennials seem to be cost conscious healthcare consumers that will likely engage in care decisions and explore self-care solutions over traditional healthcare.

What we expect from millennials in 2019

1/ Many millennial purchasing health insurance on the exchanges will purchase the Copper Plans over comprehensive coverage.

2/ They will continue to use the healthcare system as needed and pay on a fee for service basis.

3/ They will leverage technology to the fullest extent possible to manage their health, direct their care and store their health records.

What’s the impact to the exchanges?

The cost of comprehensive coverage is going up. Reportedly, the population covered is again using more healthcare expenses than expected.

The concern about the viability of the ACA comprehensive insurance plans seems to be playing out as many expected.