Health Care Costs Rising

The cost of providing employees with healthplan for you. How many providers are enough?
insurance coverage continues to increase at aThe more participating providers a health plan has,
double-digit rate. We've read a lot about costthe more you're likely to pay in premiums. If you
drivers in health care - exorbitant hospital charges,are considering a health plan that doesn't include a
rising prescription drug costs, expenses associatedfew desired physicians, request that the carrier
with developing new technologies and treatments,add them to its network.
an aging population and litigation. Nurturing thesePhysicians participate in many different health
factors is an environment in which the demandplans and are usually willing to participate in one
for health care seems to be increasing.more. Don't get caught in the trap of paying 10
For the most part, there is little employers can dopercent to 15 percent more for your health
to control what is driving health care costs out ofinsurance premiums because one or two doctors
their reach. Health benefits companies can and doare not participating in the plan. It's reasonable
negotiate discounts, and while those help, thethat an employee can find another physician out
underlying costscontinue to skyrocket. Theof the thousands on the plan.
increases created by these cost drivers flowThe power of marketing
through the health benefits companies andLiving in the United States affords us exceptional
eventually trickle down to employers in the formopportunities and choices. Along with that privilege
of higher health insurance premiums.comes a barrage of communications designed to
In this soft economy, declining revenue is puttinginfluence our decision-making. What we read in the
a squeeze on company expenses. It is likely thatpapers, see on television, hear on the radio, see
you will experience a 15 percent to 20 percentflashed across a billboard, get stuffed in our
increase in your group health insurance when amailboxes or pops up on the Internet is designed
renewal form lands on your desk.to predispose us to a company or its product.
Can you raise the cost of your company'sMarketing can be an effective tool, and depending
product or service as quickly as your healthon how much is spent, can be quite influential.
insurance premiums are increasing? Probably not.What marketing cannot do, however, no matter
However, there are steps you can take to gainhow much is spent, is replace what it takes to
some control over your health care costs.come up with an affordable health benefitssolution
Finding a solutionthat works for you. Be sure to look for a health
Employers can exercise some control over theirbenefits company that is flexible, listens and is
costs by finding a health benefits company thatwilling to roll up its sleeves to provide you with a
provides the "best" value for their company'spackage of health benefits that you can afford.
premium dollars. The way in which you "shop" aPETER JOSEPH is senior vice president for
health plan can impact the price. I'll use an analogy.commercial salesfor VISTA, a health benefits
Your travel agent has a great deal for you - air,company headquartered in South
car, hotel and meals included. You tell your agentFlorida with more than 330,000 members. VISTA,
to book it.through itsaffiliated companies, Vista Healthplan
Coincidently, your neighbors just booked thatInc., Vista Health Plan of South Florida Inc. and
same trip for $1,000 less through their travelVista Insurance
agent. One agent shopped for the best price, thePlan Inc., offers a choice of health benefit plans
other agent arranged the trip through his or herincluding health maintenance organization (HMO),
vendor of choice. Whether it's a family vacation,preferred provider organization (PPO) and
buying a car or choosing a health benefits plan,point-of-service (POS). Reach him through
how you shop can impact your cost. Make sureVISTA's Web site at or (954) 986-6255.
your insurance agent doesn't "arrange" your health