Written by: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts As costs continue to rise and visibility around health care choices remains clouded, employers are rethinking how their health plans work. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts looks at the shift toward cost and quality transparency, and where its new plan, Beacon Blue, fits into that picture. Every renewal season, employers face a familiar affordability challenge: absorb another premium increase to preserve broad access, or make plan changes that may feel like a loss of choice to employees. That pressure is intensified by rising pharmacy and hospital costs, delayed care, and ongoing treatment across the workforce At the same time, many people are asked to make health care decisions without clear information about what care will cost or which providers deliver stronger value. S. adults delayed or skipped medical treatment in the past year because they couldn't afford it — which can lead to more serious, costly care down the line. Health plan design has a role to play here. For many employers, the PPO remains the preferred choice. Employees have broad access to doctors and specialists, and covered services are typically available without the same restrictions associated with narrower networks. That freedom is a big part of why the PPO has stayed popular even as costs climb — nearly half of covered workers are enrolled in one, more than any other plan type. Why broad access alone isn’t enough However, access to a wide range of providers is not the same as knowing their costs up front.