| Minnesota Healthcare Providers Join In Launch Of "Online Shopping Mall" For Healthcare
A new Minnesota company launched a retail marketplace that puts consumers in control of their healthcare decisions.
Carol, The Care Marketplace – www.carol.com
– is an "online shopping mall" that gives consumers everything
they need to shop, compare and purchase healthcare services as easily
as they purchase goods and services in other retail environments.
Thirty Minnesota healthcare providers have already
joined the Carol marketplace. Participants include HealthPartners, Park
Nicollet Health Services, MinuteClinic, Mayo Clinic Health Solutions,
Ridgeview Medical Center, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Minnesota Oncology
Hematology, Zel Skin and Laser Specialists, Southdale Pediatrics and
many others.
Area residents using Carol.com for the first time can go
online to easily compare the cost and quality of more than 350 health
services from local, competing healthcare providers and doctors and
then select the option best suited for them.
Individuals also can apply their health insurance
benefits and view base prices and estimated in-network and
out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services prior to scheduling and
receiving them.
Carol is a free service for consumers and is designed
for all people – those with and without health insurance. The
Carol name was taken to honor the trusted family members, friends and
associates people turn to when seeking advice or recommendations about
healthcare.
"In most industries, information about services, price
and quality are clear and available to consumers. But healthcare has
always been different. We created Carol to help consumers do what they
want to do – change healthcare," said Tony Miller, founder and
chief executive officer (CEO) of Carol. "Carol is the first service to
connect individuals and families directly to multiple healthcare
providers, while incorporating the realities of a consumer’s
healthcare benefits. We’re excited to give people complete
control of how they evaluate, choose and consume health services, and
we strongly believe a more engaged consumer is the first step towards
making healthcare more affordable, approachable and valuable."
Address: Carol, 505 Highway 169 North, Suite 400, Plymouth, MN 55441; (763) 647-5500, www.carol.com.
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