Keeping health care costs down has long been a pressing issue for employers. In 2017, the uncertainty that comes with the new Trump administration, which seems certain to make numerous changes to health care policy, is making some business leaders nervous.

But even if there are dramatic changes in regulations and taxes, the basic foundations of employer-based health benefits are not likely to be challenged. And rising costs will still be a problem — which is why it's important employers continue to keep an eye out for new innovations while continuing to adopt strategies that have proven effective in containing the rise of health costs.

HDHPs likely to get a boost from Trump

The movement toward high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) such as HSAs and HRAs continues to be very strong, according to industry experts. “The top trend going into next year has been consumer directed health care plans or high-deductible health plans,” says Kevin Davis, senior employee benefits consultant at Univest, a financial and insurance services company. “We see a lower premium rate increase [with HDHPs]; about half of what we see on traditional PPO-type plans. It does seem to be working as a cost-containment strategy.”