2017全球医疗趋势调查报告（英文版）_18页-1mb

2017 Global Medical Trends Survey Report Summary

Core Content

The 2017 Willis Towers Watson Global Medical Trends Survey Report highlights the ongoing rise in global medical costs, with no signs of slowing down. The report analyzes cost drivers, employer responses, and regional variations in medical trend rates across different countries.

Main Findings

• Global Medical Trend: The average global medical trend rate is projected to be 7.8% in 2017, up from 7.3% in 2016 and 7.5% in 2015. These rates are weighted by GDP per capita to account for market size and currency fluctuations.
• Regional Variations:
  • Latin America leads with the highest trend rate at 11.5% for 2017.
  • Europe continues to have the lowest trend, below 5%.
  • Asia Pacific shows a rising trend, with an average of 8.6% in 2017.
• Employer Responses:
  • Employers primarily use traditional cost management strategies, such as cost sharing and contracting with provider networks.
  • There is a growing emphasis on preventive care and well-being initiatives to improve employee health and reduce long-term costs.
  • Well-being programs are becoming more common, with nearly half of European employers and a majority in the Americas offering such programs.
• Disease Trends:
  • Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory illness are projected to remain the top three diseases globally for at least the next five years.
  • These diseases are becoming more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries due to aging populations, urbanization, and the globalization of risk factors.

Key Cost Drivers

• Hospital/Inpatient Services and Basic Medical/Outpatient Services: These are the primary cost drivers, with over 50% of insurers in most regions expecting moderate to significant increases. Asia Pacific leads in this category, with 92% of insurers attributing cost increases to hospital/inpatient services.
• Pharmacy Costs: Particularly significant in the Americas, with 71% of insurers expecting moderate to significant increases.
• Maternity and Dental Care: These categories are also linked to rising costs, except in Europe.
• Provider and Employee Behavior:
  • 74% of insurers are concerned about overprescription and inappropriate care-seeking by employees.
• New Medical Technology and Higher Provider Profits:
  • 63% of insurers cite the cost of new medical technologies as a key driver.
  • 40% of insurers attribute rising costs to provider profit motives, a slight decrease from the previous year.
• Other Factors:
  • Limited provider networks (25%), changes in workforce demographics (24%), economic environment (23%), and poor provider cost information (22%) are also contributing to rising medical costs.

Country-Specific Insights

Conclusion

The report underscores the persistent challenge of rising medical costs globally, driven by a combination of factors including service utilization, provider behavior, and new technology. While traditional cost management strategies remain prevalent, there is a noticeable shift toward more preventive and employee-focused programs. The increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases is expected to shape future healthcare trends, with significant regional differences in cost drivers and responses.