Cost management opportunities and strategies to optimize employer health plans

As costs continue to increase, more employers are considering a shift in plan design and financial support from funding coverage to funding HSAs.

Newly enacted federal legislation supports employer-sponsored health plans with added levels of insight, protection and fairness. This offers plan sponsors an opportunity to implement cost management strategies that will improve the value participants receive.

Employers are increasingly pursuing health care cost management initiatives and education as part of comprehensive wellness initiatives – health and wealth. One key change will prompt employees to become consumers who better manage their own health care choices as well as their utilization of health care services. This has the potential to generate the greatest savings. Informed choice has value. Well-informed choices are part of being well-prepared. Preparation means acting like a consumer. Too frequently, once individuals become patients expense is no object – especially when the plan is footing the majority of the cost.