Health Care Blog January 12, 2026
Owen Tripp

Move over, GLP-1s. This year the healthcare spotlight is on alternative plan design. Alternative health plans offer cost transparency and a consumer-friendly shopping experience. But can the capabilities under the hood deliver on quality and value? Though it may not sound buzzworthy, it has the potential to trigger a seismic shift in the commercial insurance market.

After years of disappointing returns and unmet promises from traditional insurance models, innovators and big-name insurers themselves are doubling down on alternative plans aimed at reducing healthcare costs through preferred care pathways with transparent pricing. Though these plans come in many flavors, common features include tiered networks, variable copays, care steerage, and an emphasis on primary and virtual care — often packaged in a...

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Topics: AI (Artificial Intelligence), Healthcare System, Insurance, Patient / Consumer, Payer, Pricing / Spending, Provider, Technology
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