How health care system works


Health Care Costs Rising

The cost of providing employees with healthThe more participating providers a health
insurance coverage continues to increase at aplan has, the more you're likely to pay in
double-digit rate. We've read a lot aboutpremiums. If you are considering a health
cost drivers in health care - exorbitantplan that doesn't include a few desired
hospital charges, rising prescription drugphysicians, request that the carrier add them
costs, expenses associated with developingto  its  network.
new technologies and treatments, an aging
population and litigation. Nurturing thesePhysicians participate in many different
factors is an environment in which the demandhealth plans and are usually willing to
for  health  care  seems  to  be  increasing.participate in one more. Don't get caught in
the trap of paying 10 percent to 15 percent
For the most part, there is little employersmore for your health insurance premiums
can do to control what is driving health carebecause one or two doctors are not
costs out of their reach. Health benefitsparticipating in the plan. It's reasonable
companies can and do negotiate discounts, andthat an employee can find another physician
while those help, the underlyingout  of  the  thousands  on  the  plan.
costscontinue to skyrocket. The increases
created by these cost drivers flow throughThe  power  of  marketing
the health benefits companies and eventually
trickle down to employers in the form ofLiving in the United States affords us
higher  health  insurance  premiums.exceptional opportunities and choices. Along
with that privilege comes a barrage of
In this soft economy, declining revenue iscommunications designed to influence our
putting a squeeze on company expenses. It isdecision-making. What we read in the papers,
likely that you will experience a 15 percentsee on television, hear on the radio, see
to 20 percent increase in your group healthflashed across a billboard, get stuffed in
insurance when a renewal form lands on yourour mailboxes or pops up on the Internet is
desk.designed to predispose us to a company or its
product.
Can you raise the cost of your company's
product or service as quickly as your healthMarketing can be an effective tool, and
insurance premiums are increasing? Probablydepending on how much is spent, can be quite
not. However, there are steps you can take toinfluential. What marketing cannot do,
gain some control over your health carehowever, no matter how much is spent, is
costs.replace what it takes to come up with an
affordable health benefitssolution that works
Finding  a  solutionfor you. Be sure to look for a health
benefits company that is flexible, listens
Employers can exercise some control overand is willing to roll up its sleeves to
their costs by finding a health benefitsprovide you with a package of health benefits
company that provides the "best" value forthat  you  can  afford.
their company's premium dollars. The way in
which you "shop" a health plan can impact thePETER JOSEPH is senior vice president for
price. I'll use an analogy. Your travel agentcommercial salesfor VISTA, a health benefits
has a great deal for you - air, car, hotelcompany  headquartered  in  South
and meals included. You tell your agent to
book  it.Florida with more than 330,000 members.
VISTA, through itsaffiliated companies, Vista
Coincidently, your neighbors just booked thatHealthplan Inc., Vista Health Plan of South
same trip for $1,000 less through theirFlorida  Inc.  and  Vista  Insurance
travel agent. One agent shopped for the best
price, the other agent arranged the tripPlan Inc., offers a choice of health benefit
through his or her vendor of choice. Whetherplans including health maintenance
it's a family vacation, buying a car ororganization (HMO), preferred provider
choosing a health benefits plan, how you shoporganization (PPO) and point-of-service
can impact your cost. Make sure your(POS). Reach him through VISTA's Web site at
insurance agent doesn't "arrange" your healthor (954) 986-6255.
plan for you. How many providers are enough?



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