Consumer Driven Health Care

It looks like consumers are finally starting to drive their own health care.

Workers who engage in health-smart habits offered in consumer-driven health plans reduced their health risks and lower their total medical costs an average of $9,700 per employee over a five-year period, according to a study of health care claims representing 1.1 million Cigna customers in CDHPs, PPOs and HMOs.

Folks living in Virginia have a little more help with the availability of information to arm themselves to negotiate costs for health care services.

MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, said Tuesday its profit climbed in the fourth quarter on higher premium revenue and gains from derivatives.

Just like Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase says they have added a record number of health savings accounts they manage for workers.

Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported a wider fourth-quarter loss Tuesday as it continued to study its experimental cancer drugs tivozanib and ficlatuzumab.

UnitedHealth Group's Optum business is launching a service that allows doctors to share information about patients over the Internet, as health care companies continue their push to improve care with better coordination.

A new study coming from the University of California-Irvine may upset Republicans who argue health care reform is too costly: Researchers found health care costs on the whole fall when poorer, uninsured patients are provided health insurance.