Employers that want to get the most out of their investments in employee benefit programs will want to consider how and where their dollars are being spent and the effect on worker health and productivity, according to a new white paper published by Business Insurance.

“Maximizing Health Care ROI: How to Get the Most Bang for Your Benefits Buck” advises employers how implementing plan designs that appeal to their specific employee populations will encourage them to be smarter health care consumers, seek out preventive care and adopt healthy lifestyles that ultimately will reduce overall health care spending.

In some cases, high-deductible consumer-driven health plans, which have lower premiums but greater cost-sharing with workers, may be the most attractive option for an employer, according to experts contributing to the white paper.

In other cases, voluntary benefits, which are paid 100% by employees, may be an attractive option for workers because they enable them to choose the coverage that best fits their needs, lifestyle, finances and family.

The paper also addresses self-insurance, through which employers with 500 or more employees can save 10% or more on premiums, in part because self-funded plans are not subject to state-mandated benefits and premium taxes, which typically range from 2% to 3% of premium. Self-insurance also gives employers greater control over plan design, enabling them to include incentives to encourage more intelligent use of benefits by employees and their dependents.

Regardless of plan design, the paper notes that effective communication is essential to ensure that employees take advantage of the benefits that will enable them to be more loyal and productive workers.

For more information on how investing in employee benefits can improve your organization's bottom line, go to www.businessinsurance.com/whitepapers.