Health care costs have skyrocketed in recent years, and employees will continue feeling financial pressures throughout 2025. This stress can lead to higher benefit costs like increased premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
While you can’t control rising costs, you can take steps to curb your spending. Here are 10 tips to help reduce your health care expenses.
Cost-saving Tips
Employers expect health care costs to grow between 7% and 8% in 2025. Consider these tips:
- Brush up on your health plan knowledge. Understand what your plan covers, including key terms like deductible, coinsurance, and copays.
- Stay in network. Use in-network providers to take advantage of lower costs.
- Focus on prevention. Combine preventive care with a healthy lifestyle to achieve significant savings.
- Ask questions. Discuss alternative, cost-effective options with your doctor.
- Go generic. Generic drugs are often less expensive and just as effective as brand-name ones.
- Shop around. Compare prices for medications, procedures, and services.
- Leverage FSAs and HSAs. Use pre-tax accounts to pay for medical expenses.
- Review your medical bills. Check for errors and contact your provider or insurer if needed.
- Use the emergency room appropriately. For non-life-threatening issues, consider urgent care centers.
- Participate in wellness programs. Take advantage of employer wellness programs to potentially lower your health insurance premiums.
Summary
You can’t control rising health care costs, but educating yourself as a consumer is a key step in managing expenses. Stay proactive, ask questions, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If you have questions, reach out to your HR representative.
This Know Your Benefits article is provided by Hodge, Hart & Schleifer for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional insurance advice. © 2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.