4. Innovative ways to control health care costs. Expect to see insurance companies trying out a variety of concepts for controlling costs. Tiered pricing is one example. There’s a lower co-payment if subscribers select this option, which includes providers who meet certain cost and quality benchmarks. A second tier offers a higher co-payment and includes providers who have not met those benchmarks. Another innovation comes from Precedent of Dallas, a division of American Community Mutual Insurance Company in Michigan. Since those with a mini medical plan having a high deductible can face a serious financial situation should they have substantial medical costs, the company has plans allowing participants to purchase additional coverage when exhausting their underlying benefits.