Why Switching Carriers Won't Fix Your Healthcare Cost Problem
- Wes Spencer
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Renewal season is approaching, and you're likely already dreading the familiar routine:
reviewing carrier options, comparing premium increases, and preparing to deliver unwelcome news about higher costs or reduced benefits to your employees.
But what if you've been fighting the wrong battle all along?
The truth is, health insurance isn't the problem, healthcare is.
Until you improve how your employees access the healthcare services they need, health insurance costs will continue to rise regardless of which carrier you choose or which plan design you implement.
The Driver Behind Rising Premiums
Healthcare costs drive health insurance costs. It's that simple. When your employees can't make informed decisions about their care, they end up paying more for services, driving up claims costs, which ultimately leads to higher premiums for everyone. Switching plans or carriers won't solve the issue. It's just treating the symptom, not the disease.
The current system places an impossible burden on employees.
They're expected to understand complex medical terminology, compare provider quality, negotiate prices, and make critical healthcare decisions without the tools or knowledge to do so effectively. This approach isn't working, and your annual premium increases prove it.
Recent data from Angle Health reveals the scope of the problem facing American workers:
61% of Americans say their biggest barrier to care is affordability
28% say it's difficult to understand what is covered
13% say finding the care they need is confusing
These statistics paint a clear picture: your employees aren't just struggling with the cost of care, they're struggling to understand and access the care they need. This confusion leads to delayed treatment, inappropriate care choices, and unnecessary expenses that drive up your organization's health plan costs.
Healthcare Navigation: Your Cost Control Strategy
What your employees need is guidance at the point of care decision-making. They need someone to help them understand their options, compare costs and quality, and make informed choices that benefit both their health and their wallet.
This is where healthcare navigation becomes important.
When employees have access to expert guidance, they can:
Compare provider quality and costs before making appointments
Understand what their benefits cover and what they'll pay out-of-pocket
Access alternative care options that may be more appropriate and cost-effective
Receive timely support when healthcare questions arise
Instead of reactive insurance shopping, consider a proactive approach that addresses healthcare utilization directly. This means providing your employees with the tools and support they need to make better healthcare decisions from the start.
Understanding the Cost of Care
Most employees have no idea what their healthcare services cost until they receive the bill. By providing cost transparency upfront, employees can make more informed decisions about where to seek care and what treatments to pursue.
Quality-Based Decision Making
Not all providers are created equal. Employees need access to quality data that helps them choose providers who deliver better outcomes at reasonable costs. This information is rarely available through traditional insurance resources.
Alternative Care Options
Many healthcare needs can be addressed through alternative care models that cost less and provide better access. Employees need guidance on when these options are appropriate and how to access them.
Building a Sustainable Solution
The key to controlling health insurance costs isn't finding the perfect plan, it's creating a system that supports better healthcare decision-making. This requires ongoing education and support, as employees need continuous access to healthcare guidance year-round, not just during open enrollment.
Modern employees also expect convenient, mobile-friendly access to support services, so healthcare guidance should be available through familiar communication channels that integrate seamlessly into their daily lives.
The Future of Employee Benefits
Forward-thinking employers are recognizing that healthcare cost control requires a fundamental shift in approach.
As renewal season gets closer, consider whether you're ready to break the cycle of annual premium increases and benefit reductions. The solution isn't found in carrier RFPs or plan design modifications, it's found in addressing the root cause of healthcare costs through better decision-making support.
What if you could give your employees access to a team of experts to make healthcare decision-making easy?
You can.
We've built it, and it's called SymplCare. We go above and beyond to help your employees make important healthcare decisions that impact their health, their wallet, and your bottom line.
Comments