Benefit strategies for tough times

Most employers are making tough decisions to deal with the economy these
days. Many of these decisions have a negative impact on employees who
already face hard times themselves.

Minimize the impact of negative decisions by promoting the positive
benefits you already provide.

Strategy 1: Maximize the benefits you have today. 

Your employees may not even realize how much the benefits they currently have can help them. If they're not using their benefits wisely, then you are not getting the most for your money.

Promote the added-value benefits of your plan

Highlight whatever extras come with your plans.

• Discount programs can help your employees save money-on ways to stay healthy, like vision care, vitamins and fitness.
• Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help your employees manage their finances, find child care, relieve stress and more!
  

Show your employees how to save on pharmacy costs

• Generic drugs are more affordable than brand medications and are proven just as effective.
• Mail-order service can save on copays and offer convenience that saves gas and time.

Remind your employees of our free informational resources

Staying informed is the best way to keep both family and finances healthy. Aetna offers many tools that help our members and the general public.

Help for our members 

Aetna members can access all of the above websites, plus they have even more!

• Health information line staffed by nurses — Anytime, any day, members can talk to a registered nurse on our toll-free hotline.
• Secure member website — This online member hub serves as a portal to our online wellness tools and programs. Password protection lets them see their benefits information, claims, account balances and more.

Strategy 2: Motivate your employees to focus on preventive care and wellness. 

Prevention is the best medicine. Make it easy for your employees and their families to stay on top of health issues before they grow into major health concerns. Promote preventive care to your employees.

Knowing how to stay healthy is half the battle. Taking steps to stay healthy can be more difficult. People need motivation and support to adopt healthy habits. 

Smoking is a good example. All smokers know that smoking damages their health, yet many do not quit. Why? They often cannot do it alone.

Wellness programs offer motivation, education and emotional support to stay healthy. Remind your employees that they can use your wellness programs to:

• Quit smoking
• Lose weight
• Stay fit…and more!

Take a tour of our easy-to-use Roadmap to Wellness online tool!

Strategy 3: Focus on the benefits your employees care most about

Trimming costs can also come from benefit cutbacks. If you have to eliminate some benefits, be sure to keep the ones that your employees care most about.

Target your benefits for better efficiency and effectiveness instead of cutting based on price alone.

Consider your population — who works for you? 

• Do you have many people in a certain age group? Younger? Older?
• Do you have more women than men?

Tailor your benefits to fit your employees.

Think about which programs will have more value to your employees and to your bottom line.

We can help you devise strategies that fit your needs. Consider all your options.

• Choose high-deductible health plans and offer employees a health savings account or flexible savings account to help them manage costs.
• Switch some paid benefits to voluntary options. 
• Offer limited benefits plans. 

You can save money AND give your employees what they need. All you need is a strong strategy that addresses all your needs.

Get your strategies in gear today — you will be ready for any changes that come tomorrow.