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This is a checklist of methods used to reduce health insurance expenses. Whether you need to reduce the cost of health insurance for yourself or a large group of employees, some of these strategies listed may inspire additional opportunities to explore. Not all methods are equally effective for all businesses and individuals. The "tried and tired" strategies are listed first while the new and evolving strategies are listed last. We invite you to schedule a discussion with OnlineNavigator to explore the specific options and strategies that may offer the best results for your situation.

• Raise deductibles within the range that premium savings exceeds expected additional incurred costs
• Change co-insurance formulas within the range that premium savings exceeds expected additional incurred costs
• Add pre-admission certification for non-emergency hospital admissions and surgical procedures
• Limit maximum benefit limits on non-essential services including dollar limits or number of treatments
• Encourage use of Preferred Provider Organization networks
• Add, expand or increasing co-payments
• Require second opinions on plan of treatment for certain conditions with viable alternative treatments
• Perform advance health risk appraisals for obese individuals, diabetics and heart disease patients
• Raise rates for smokers, lower rates for non-smokers
• Add a Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Add wellness programs and benefits to encourage healthy behavior
• Add direct local pharmacy and medical clinic service contracts
• Explore government assistance programs including children's (CHIP), Pre-existing Condition, Medicare and Medicaid options
• Explore community-based non-insurance benefit plans
• Split an employer-sponsired group plan into smaller segments based on health needs
• Change the employer plan from defined benefit to defined contribution
• Change the insurance from major medical to defined benefit
• Explore small business and early retiree tax credits
• Add telemed services to reduce office visit costs

While all of these strategies will not work in every situation we believe that, in general, each strategy might be used to cut costs by 2% to about 4%. The total savings available by combining multiple strategies can be substantial.While all of these strategies will not work in every situation we believe that, in general, each strategy might be used to cut costs by 2% to about 4%. The total savings available by combining multiple strategies can be substantial.

Note that the listing is presented roughly in the order that these strategies were adapted by most health plans. The items at the bottom of the list represent the newest strategies that have become popular since the passage of federal health reform law in 2010. We are currently in s transition period that will last until 2014 where individuals and businesses are gradually becoming aware of the newly developed strategies to control health costs./p>

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