| The cost of providing employees with health | | | | plan for you. How many providers are enough? |
| insurance coverage continues to increase at a | | | | The more participating providers a health plan has, |
| double-digit rate. We've read a lot about cost | | | | the 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 associated | | | | few desired physicians, request that the carrier |
| with developing new technologies and treatments, | | | | add them to its network. |
| an aging population and litigation. Nurturing these | | | | Physicians participate in many different health |
| factors is an environment in which the demand | | | | plans 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 do | | | | percent to 15 percent more for your health |
| to control what is driving health care costs out of | | | | insurance premiums because one or two doctors |
| their reach. Health benefits companies can and do | | | | are not participating in the plan. It's reasonable |
| negotiate discounts, and while those help, the | | | | that an employee can find another physician out |
| underlying costscontinue to skyrocket. The | | | | of the thousands on the plan. |
| increases created by these cost drivers flow | | | | The power of marketing |
| through the health benefits companies and | | | | Living in the United States affords us exceptional |
| eventually trickle down to employers in the form | | | | opportunities 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 putting | | | | influence our decision-making. What we read in the |
| a squeeze on company expenses. It is likely that | | | | papers, see on television, hear on the radio, see |
| you will experience a 15 percent to 20 percent | | | | flashed across a billboard, get stuffed in our |
| increase in your group health insurance when a | | | | mailboxes 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's | | | | Marketing can be an effective tool, and depending |
| product or service as quickly as your health | | | | on 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 gain | | | | how 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 solution | | | | that works for you. Be sure to look for a health |
| Employers can exercise some control over their | | | | benefits company that is flexible, listens and is |
| costs by finding a health benefits company that | | | | willing to roll up its sleeves to provide you with a |
| provides the "best" value for their company's | | | | package of health benefits that you can afford. |
| premium dollars. The way in which you "shop" a | | | | PETER 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 agent | | | | Florida with more than 330,000 members. VISTA, |
| to book it. | | | | through itsaffiliated companies, Vista Healthplan |
| Coincidently, your neighbors just booked that | | | | Inc., Vista Health Plan of South Florida Inc. and |
| same trip for $1,000 less through their travel | | | | Vista Insurance |
| agent. One agent shopped for the best price, the | | | | Plan Inc., offers a choice of health benefit plans |
| other agent arranged the trip through his or her | | | | including 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 sure | | | | VISTA's Web site at or (954) 986-6255. |
| your insurance agent doesn't "arrange" your health | | | | |