The premiums on these plans are about 18 percent lower than on the most similar plans now on the market. They are expected to appeal to businesses on the verge of eliminating health-insurance coverage altogether because of high premiums.

In negotiating the plans’ design, Koller used a touch of social engineering. The plans offer incentives for good health and appropriate use of the health care system.

For example, in addition to lower deductibles and smaller co-pays for those who choose the “wellness” route, the plans fully cover mammograms and prostate-cancer screenings even before you use your deductible.

But you pay through the nose – $200 per visit – if you go to a hospital emergency room with problem that does not lead to being admitted.

In theory, these measures should lower medical expenses, whose soaring costs are the main reason for increasing premiums.

The commissioner also looked for concessions from the insurers, refusing to accept as “low cost” any plan that had low premiums but lots of out-of-pocket costs, such a high co-payments and deductibles.

Blue Cross and United will each offer two plans -- a “basic plan” and an “advantage plan.” The “advantage” plan will have lower deductibles, lower co-pays and lower out-of-pocket maximums.

In the first year, “advantage” participants have to pledge to participate in a wellness program. In the second year, they have to actually demonstrate that they followed the recommendations. That is, if you’re advised to enroll in a weight-loss program, you have to show that you went to the classes, but you don’t have to prove that you actually lost weight.