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Bring Health Care Costs Under Control

We read about it in the paper, and we've seen our own health insurance premiums and deductibles go up. In fact, average health insurance premiums across the U.S. increased by 12.7% in the last year. But here’s something you might not know: You can do something about it.

Many factors contribute to spiraling costs, including:

  • New and expensive medical technology
  • Prescription drug expenses, which are expected to grow 20% to 30% a year
  • An aging population
  • New government regulations

Health insurance companies use historical data and analysis to predict the medical expenses for a company’s plan members and to set health care premiums. Devon determines the benefits and the levels of coinsurance, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses and the weekly contributions. Approximately 85% of every health insurance dollar goes directly to pay for medical care.

Here are some things you can do to help control health care costs.

Keep an Eye on Costs

As we all pay more for the medical procedures we need and services we use, we should ask questions about treatments we receive. Review your medical bills and Explanations of Benefits (EOBs) for accuracy. Ask your doctor about generic drugs. Keeping an eye on health care costs is an important way to keep health care affordable for all of us.

Know Your Physician

Having an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician (PCP) is the best way to make sure you get the care that’s right for you. In fact, better communication between doctors and patients can help prevent medical errors. That’s why it’s important to keep an up-to-date health history and record of your prescriptions and share them with your physician.

Avoid Unnecessary Trips to the Emergency Room

When someone in your health plan visits the emergency room for non-urgent care, we all pay more. Unnecessary ER visits raise health care costs. In an emergency, don't hesitate to go to an ER. However, if your condition isn't urgent, call your doctor first.

Step up Activity

Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, can improve your health and may reduce your need for medical services. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, increasing regular moderate physical activity among the more than 88 million inactive Americans over the age of 15 years could reduce annual health care costs by as much as $76.6 billion.

Take an Ounce of Prevention

By simply buckling seat belts, wearing bike helmets, and using other safety equipment, we can save billions of dollars in related medical expenses. For example, the failure of some Americans to wear seat belts leads to an estimated 9,200 needless fatalities and 143,000 needless injuries, totaling $26 billion in health care and other costs each year.

Plan a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet, watching what you eat, and how much you eat will make you feel better. It can also help prevent diseases and illnesses that cost all of us in the long run — diseases like type-2 diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. If we can reduce the number of obese adults by just 5%, America can save over $5.5 billion in health care costs annually. Talk to your doctor about a diet that's right for you.