Here are five things employees can do to mitigate pending increases.
1. Shop around. Researching health plans rather than choosing last year’s benefits can help save employees money next year, as employers begin to increase charges for covering dependents and narrow prescription drug policies.
2. Check out high-deductible premium plans. Do not dismiss new offerings for 2017 coverage like HDHPs. While a third of employers do not offer HDHPs, considering different deductible levels could help employees save on premiums, according to Forbes.
3. Evaluate prescription drug benefits across plans. Determining the type of prescription drug coverage employees need could lower their costs. Employers change prescription benefits to curb increasing healthcare cost, so discrepancies in generic and brand name drugs could exist.
4. Tap online platforms. Employees may save on health plan costs by using online tools to help them shop. In addition, with 90 percent of employers set to cover telehealth services next year, using telemedicine can act as a low-cost alternative to visiting a healthcare facility.
5. Seek care at a center of excellence. Hospitals deemed centers of excellence often have lower costs for better quality of care, according to Forbes.
More articles on payer issues:
Changing insurance use may stabilize costs, Florida Blue leader says
Centene wins Nevada Medicaid bid
Humana teams up with MDLive for virtual care in Georgia, South Carolina
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