Teaching your employees easy ways to cut health care costs

Health insurance continues to rise and employees continue to pay more money for benefits or they simply go without. As an employer you want to try and offer your employees great benefits in return for a great work ethic but it continues to get more and more difficult as prices increase. That's why it's up to company employers to teach your employees easy ways to cut health care costs. Here are some suggestions on what you can teach your employees about cutting costs.

Understanding your health insurance plan
With so many different health insurance plans available it's important to teach your employees the importance of understanding their health plan and following the rules. It can save a ton of money in health care costs when you realize small things like getting pre-authorization for an outpatient surgery, or have permission from a doctor to go and see a specialist. Always double check with your provider about services, network providers and plan ahead before you actually receive the treatment. If you don't follow the rules or understand exactly what your health plan is offering your insurance company can deny your claim or pay only a portion of the bill.

Coordinate other health insurance plans
If you and your partner (or spouse) are both working and both receiving health insurance coverage it can get to be quite expensive. If it doesn't make sense to have both plans or if you can afford to get rid of one then do it. Trying to coordinate two different plans can become complicated because more than likely one will offer the other does not, but if it can save you some money then you might want to seriously consider it and do without something that one of the plans offers.

Cutting costs at the pharmacy
If you feel like you're being "robbed" at the pharmacy because of how much it costs to fill a prescription you're not the only one. The majorities of people that fill prescriptions regularly either save up for them or have figure out a way to cut back on expenses. Here are some ways that employees can stretch their dollar at the pharmacy:


• Ask your doctor for some free samples of drugs that they are going to prescribe to you. Doctors are almost always stocked up on samples just waiting to give to patients so don't hesitate to ask for some.


•  Instead of getting the name brand prescription drugs ask the pharmacy if there is a generic they can give to you in place. Most, if not all pharmacy's will be able to prescribe the generic of the medication you need.


•  Look into patient assistance programs that can help get medications for free or at least at a reduced cost. There are hundreds of these types of programs and the rules for eligibility will vary but it's always worth a shot.

Tax breaks
Teach your employees that there are certain consumer health plans like flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), or health savings accounts (HSAs) that they can also take advantage of. These are all different types of health care spending accounts that will take money out of your salary before it is taxed. You can then use or save the money up for medical expenses.

Be healthy
Teach your employees that a great way to cut health care costs is to keep themselves healthy. You as an employer can also offer incentives for them. Many companies have incorporated wellness programs into their companies to help educate employees, and give them the opportunity to be health, fit, or lose weight. Living a health life can get you substantially lower health care rates and costs.

Teaching your employees easy ways to cut health care costs will save them money as well as you as their employer. Everyone wants to save an extra buck, so show your employees you value them by helping them save one too.

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Categories: Health Care Costs,

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