Opinion: Insurance companies should pay patients when they make cost-effective health care choices

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/health-care-costs-insurance-incentives-patie...

Published: Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

The opinion proposes that insurance companies pay patients to choose cost-effective health care. When patients pay the same amount regardless of the health care option they choose, they have no incentive to make informed decisions. This system does not encourage thinking about the cost and effectiveness of treatment. The goal is to motivate patients to choose cheaper but equally effective alternatives. Insurance companies would thus reward rational choices in healthcare.