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Consider a scenario in which you’ve had a bad cold for a number of days and it doesn’t seem to be improving.  You could…

- Take a trip to the emergency room.  Cost: $800

- Go to an urgent care center. Cost: $200

- Visit your doctor’s office tomorrow.  Cost: $120

- Stay home from work for a day, take some over-the-counter medicine and re-evaluate your health in the morning after a good night’s rest.  Cost: $10

As we move down the list, the price drops substantially.  Considering lower-cost solutions for the same problem is consumerism. 

Those enrolled in high deductible health plans are more likely to consider these lower-cost solutions because they are footing the majority of their medical bills.  Conversely, if they were in a copay-based plan, only nominal fees prevent them from getting over-treated for a common ailment.  Insurance abuse likes this increases costs system-wide, whereas consumerism curbs everyone’s costs.