Americans spent about $2.2 trillion on health care in 2007, a figure that is expected to nearly double – to $4.3 trillion – in 2017. Those soaring expenses have pushed the cost of health insurance higher in both the public and private sectors and have had a major impact on the State Health Plan (SHP).

• The State Health Plan's per-person expenditure has more than doubled since 1992, rising from $1,142 to $2,958 in 2006.
• Claims paid reached a record $1 billion in 2006, and per-subscriber claims were $5,216 – up from the 2000 figure of $3,500 – and more than nine times higher than in 1980.
• The entire amount of claims paid in 1972 would pay less than three days of claims in 2003.
• Total claims paid in 2006 were more than 10 times higher than the total claims paid in 1983.
• Drug claim payments more than doubled between 2001 and 2006, to $322.4 million, while the average drug payment per insured life rose 82 percent.

Although the plan remains a good value – its costs are competitive with other programs, and, in many cases, are less expensive – the Employee Insurance Program has identified a number of easy ways subscribers can reduce the cost of healthcare and better manage their premiums.

Take Advantage of the Mail-Order Pharmacy Service. If you or someone in your family regularly takes medication for chronic conditions such as asthma, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, this option may deliver significant savings on prescriptions. For more information, refer to your plan's prescription drug information in your Insurance Benefits Guide.

Use Generic Prescription Drugs When Possible. According the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies alone. FDA-approved generics are identical, or bioequivalent, to brand-name drugs in dosage form, safety, strength, quality, performance characteristics and intended use – at a fraction of the price. And if you are on a maintenance drug, try to buy it in quantity through your plan's mail-order pharmacy.

Know Your Doctor and Pharmacist. A good relationship and better communication with your healthcare providers can have a major impact on costs. A trip to the emergency room can be two to three times more expensive than a visit to the doctor, and preventing errors due to a breakdown in communication can save $15 billion annually. Similarly, if your pharmacist is familiar with you and your condition, he or she can help you make better-informed decisions about using less-expensive generic drugs.

Know Your Plan. Using network or participating providers can reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and understanding what's covered – before you receive services – helps assure that you will maximize the value of your plan.

Take Advantage of Low-Cost Worksite Screenings. This benefit is available to active and retired employees and their covered spouses whose primary coverage is the Standard Plan, the Savings Plan, Blue Choice Health Plan, CIGNA HMO or MUSC Options.

For just $15, a participant receives a health screening that measures cholesterol levels, blood pressure, triglyceride levels, kidney function and red and white blood cell counts. The test, valued at more than $200, can help identify and prevent many health conditions. It helps you lower your healthcare costs by reducing the expenses of an annual physical.

For more information, consult your benefits administrator, your Insurance Benefits Guide or Prevention Partners at 888-260-9430.

Manage Chronic Diseases. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol and high blood pressure drive up to 75 percent of all healthcare costs. Most can be managed – and some even prevented – with earlier diagnosis, weight management and lifestyle changes.

Open a MoneyPlu$ Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account. Active employees can save money on medical expenses and dependent care with money set aside before it is taxed. As you incur eligible expenses, you can request tax-free reimbursement from these accounts. MoneyPlu$ offers three flexible spending accounts: a Dependent Care Account, a Medical Spending Account and a limited-use Medical Spending Account (for use with a Health Savings Account). A MoneyPlu$ Health Savings Account is available to only those employees enrolled in the State Health Plan Savings Plan.

For more information, consult your benefits administrator or your Insurance Benefits Guide.

Use the ER for Emergencies Only. Whenever someone goes to the emergency room for non-emergency care, we all pay the price. At least half of all emergency room visits are not for true emergencies, wasting up to $7 billion annually and causing increases in premiums, deductibles, and copayments. Don't ever hesitate to go to the ER if it's a true emergency. But if it's not, check with your doctor first.

Manage Stress. Stress contributes directly or indirectly to many leading causes of death and aggravates many other conditions. Managing stress – whether you get more exercise, take deep breaths, or cut back on coffee – can make your life easier and your healthcare costs lower.

Stay Active. By getting some form of regular exercise – even walking just 30 minutes a day, three days a week – you can cut the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. That translates to fewer trips to the doctor and lower healthcare costs.

Stop Smoking. The annual cost of healthcare related directly to smoking in South Carolina is $1.09 billion. Each of the health plans offered through the Employee Insurance Program has a smoking-cessation program that includes assistance from a quit coach, telephone support, free nicotine replacement products and more. For more information on your plan's program, consult your Insurance Benefits Guide.

Lose Weight. Studies show that the direct medical costs related to obesity are $393 billion, or 9.1 percent of all U.S. health care costs. Moreover, obesity costs companies $12.7 billion per year, the largest share of which – about $7.7 billion – is in the form of higher insurance costs, and is associated with 63 million additional doctor's visits annually. It adds $395 a year to your healthcare costs, more than problem drinking, smoking and aging. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can result in lifetime savings of up to $5,300.

Take Charge of Your Care. In addition to losing weight and stopping smoking, there are a number of other steps you can take to take control of your healthcare costs.

• Get an annual physical
• Know your family health history and screen for potential problems.
• Don't get sunburned; wear sunscreen.
• Ask your doctor whether certain tests are medically necessary or simply "defensive" and review your medical bills and ask questions.