There's a Better Way to Handle Rising Healthcare Costs

You have probably settled into a familiar routine with your health insurance. Premiums go up every year, so you raise deductibles, increase employee contributions, and maybe shop around for a new carrier. Rinse and repeat.

It's frustrating, but it feels like the only option.

I’m here to tell you, there are practical ways to approach employee healthcare that don't involve this constant squeeze.

What's Actually Going Wrong

The problem is that your employees are navigating it alone. When they actually need care, they're on their own to figure out where to go, what it costs, and whether they're making a smart choice.

Those choices add up.

One employee pays $3,000 for an MRI at the hospital down the street when there's a $400 option across town. Another fills a prescription at full price without knowing about a lower-cost alternative. Multiply that across your workforce, and you can see where your premium increases are coming from.

A Different Approach

What if your employees had someone in their corner before they made those decisions?

Here's what that looks like in practice:

Sarah needs an MRI for her knee. She reaches out to our Symplifiers to discuss her options. They find a high-quality imaging center that costs a fraction of the hospital price, and because Sarah uses the preferred provider, there's no out-of-pocket cost. She pays zero.

The same thing happens with prescriptions, specialist visits, and routine procedures. Employees get guidance when they need it, not after the fact.

The Part That Actually Matters

Instead of waiting for employees to ask for help, what if someone was keeping an eye out for opportunities? A team reviewing claims data notices an employee is refilling an expensive medication and reaches out with information about a generic alternative that works just as well. Or they see someone scheduled an expensive procedure and connects them with a more cost-effective option before the appointment happens.

It's not about telling people what to do. It's about giving them information they wouldn't have otherwise had.

What This Looks Like in Real Numbers

Last year, a concrete contractor in Michigan tried our approach. In ten months, their per-employee healthcare spending dropped 9.5%. Their stop-loss rates stayed flat for this year's renewal, and they're trending to spend even less. They didn't cut benefits or raise deductibles. They just helped their employees make better-informed decisions about their care.

Worth Considering

You have options beyond the usual playbook of higher premiums, bigger deductibles, and hoping for the best. The companies that are breaking out of this cycle aren't doing anything radical. They're just making sure their employees have support when making healthcare decisions.

If you're interested in exploring what a different approach could look like for your company, let's talk.