Sample Newsletter Article on Rising Health Insurance Costs
What's Behind Rising Health Care Costs?
By [Human Resources VP]
We are bombarded with health care related media stories. One day it's good news about a new medical device for Parkinson's patients. The next day it's bad news about a double-digit increase in health care premiums.
The Reality
Unfortunately, we are seldom told about how these stories are related. The reality is this: The more health care services we use, the more we have to pay for them.
For years, working Americans have received subsidized health insurance through their employers, the state or the federal government. The result is that employees have been protected from the true costs of health care.
Health care coverage is a benefit we have been happy to provide. But now those costs are rising beyond what employers and governments can afford. Employees are being asked to shoulder some of the burden, and in the process are gaining their first glimpse into health care's true expenses.
Why Are Premiums Rising?
So what's really behind those rising costs on our pay stubs? Why so much? Why now?
The short answer is a coincidence of timing. While the overall population is aging - led by the eldest of the Baby Boomers - we are seeing unprecedented innovations in medical technology, pharmaceutical research and new medical procedures. In other words, more of us are receiving better - but often more expensive - services. As a result, we're living longer, healthy lives. But the cost of health care, and the insurance we provide to protect employees, is going up.
What You Can Do
On a personal level, controlling health care cost is both a financial and lifestyle question.
The best way to control your overall health care costs will always be to live a healthy lifestyle that minimizes your need for health care. Of course, you can't prevent every illness, accident or broken bone. From a financial standpoint, [company's] goal is to continue providing the highest quality, most affordable health insurance coverage. While we are asking employees to pay a greater amount, we are working hard to keep the actual proportion of employee-paid premiums consistent.
California employers, health plans, policy makers and health care providers continue to work toward a realistic solution to rising health care costs. We hope current trends will curtail. But, in the meantime, please know that we are doing everything we can to maintain our tradition of effective employee health coverage.
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