What type of measures might influence participant behavior in health benefits?

Higher deductibles and co-payments are measures that can significantly influence participant behavior regarding health benefits. When participants are faced with higher out-of-pocket expenses for their healthcare services, they tend to become more cost-conscious about their medical decisions. This can lead to several behaviors:

1. Increased Awareness of Costs: Participants may start to shop around for healthcare services, becoming more aware of the prices associated with different providers and treatments.

2. Preventive Care Utilization: Higher out-of-pocket costs may encourage individuals to prioritize preventive care services, which typically have lower or no costs associated, rather than delaying care until reaching a higher severity of illness, which could be more expensive.

3. Cost-Effective Choices: Individuals might choose less expensive medications or treatments when they see how much they are responsible for paying. This behavior can promote a culture of understanding the value of the services being utilized.

The inclusion of higher deductibles and co-payments aligns with broader trends aiming to engage consumers in their healthcare, moving from passive coverage to more active decision-making regarding their health expenditures. This impacts overall healthcare utilization and, consequently, health outcomes and costs.