There are many variables in health insurance costs including the individual's health, the part of the country in which they live and the type of coverage selected. However, many insurance companies are taking different approaches to help contain the health insurance costs for their enrolled members. Many insurers reward enrollees with lower premiums if specific, measurable goals are achieved while some employers offer financial rewards for their employees for participating in wellness programs.
These types of programs can provide incentives to those insured to eliminate bad habits in their lifestyle such as smoking or intensify their efforts to lose weight. While premiums remain similar for everyone with increases typically across the board, to help reduce individual health insurance costs these plans can pay back workers with positive lifestyle changes.
Many workers believe that since they pay the same for health insurance costs as their coo-workers who may not be willing to sacrifice their habits, there is little reason for them to change their styles. However, in addition to having better health, they may view the extra incentives being offered as a reason to make those changes.
One of the ways insurance companies are attempting to reign in health insurance costs is through mail-in pharmacy programs. Most prescription plans mandate a co-payment for every prescription filled by a plan subscriber. For example, if a person is on three maintenance drugs, with a $20 co-payment their monthly out of pocket prescription cost is $60. Through most mail-in pharmacy programs, they can receive a three-month supply with the same co-payment, reducing their cost to $60 for three months instead of just one.
Lining up doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to be part of a health care network also works to lower health insurance costs as typically, the providers will agree to accept lower payments for their services in exchange for the number of patients enrolled in the company's plan. By visiting a network doctor, patients reduce their health insurance costs. If they visit a non-network provider, the difference between the negotiated charge for service and what is actually charged by the doctor, becomes the responsibility of the patient.
Another method of controlling health insurance costs is the deductible amount chosen by the subscriber. The higher the deductible the lower the monthly premiums and for healthy people the insurance with a high deductible may make better sense than higher premiums over several healthy years. The insurance will be available for emergencies, but the cost is lower on a monthly basis.
