Are plans with higher employee-paid deductibles a long-term solution to rising health care costs?
No. The primary goal of consumer-driven health care is to educate the consumer on the true cost of health benefits and have them get involved in the process. The higher deductibles with no co-pays tend to shock consumers into better awareness of the costs of their health benefits. However, higher deductibles are not lowering health care premiums as was originally anticipated. Employer promotion of health is a better solution. Q. What can employers do to take an active role in the process? Promoting good health effectively should lead to happier, more productive employees if not lower health care costs. The best place to begin an initiative in this direction is to make sure you are fully utilizing the wellness tools and services provided by the current health care provider. Wellness services are promoted aggressively during the sales process, but the employer must provide education and guidance on this program to enjoy the full benefits. Q. Are there any areas of health care that are be
