Page 11 - LRCC 2025 October FOCUS Magazine

Ask the Expert Series

Addressing Health Care Affordability for

Michigan Small Businesses

By Sandy Fester, Vice President, Michigan Business, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

WHAT HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY IS THERE ANYTHING SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
CHALLENGES ARE MICHIGAN SMALL DO TO INFLUENCE THESE COSTS?
BUSINESSES FACING TODAY?
Yes. Employers have an important role in shaping
Small businesses are the backbone health outcomes. Encouraging preventive care,
of our state’s economy, but many supporting wellness programs and helping employees
are struggling with the rising manage chronic conditions can reduce costly care.
cost of providing health benefits. Healthier employees mean fewer high-cost claims,
Premiums sit “downstream” of which helps ease pressure on premiums. These
the broader health care system — aren’t quick fixes, but they can make a measurable
reflecting the prices set by hospitals, difference over time.
drug companies and technology.
With more employees managing You can also work with your insurance carrier and
chronic conditions like diabetes Fester agent to shop for the right plan option at the right
and heart disease and more care price point for you. At Blue Cross, we understand that
delivered in high-cost settings like emergency rooms, a “one-size-fits-all” approach won’t meet all employers’
employers are seeing premiums climb faster than their needs — that’s why we offer a range of products that
budgets can keep up. We know this puts real pressure span the spectrum from lower premium + narrower
on owners who want to support their employees and network to higher premium + broader network. We
remain competitive. have more than 120 plan offerings through our HMO
and PPO products for small group customers.
WHAT IS BLUE CROSS DOING TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH AFFORDABILITY? WHAT’S THE BIGGER PICTURE? HOW DO
WE SOLVE THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS?
At Blue Cross, we believe affordability is a shared
responsibility — and we’re leading change upstream. No one can solve this challenge alone. It will take
Through our Value Partnerships and Blueprint for businesses, insurers, providers, drug companies and
Affordability programs, we’re working with Michigan policymakers working together to redesign the system
providers to shift the focus of payment from volume so it works better for everyone. For small businesses,
of services to outcomes for patients. That means the stakes are especially high. That’s why Blue Cross is
focusing on preventive care, coordinated treatment committed to being your partner and your champion
and reducing unnecessary hospital stays. — standing alongside you to find solutions that keep
coverage accessible and affordable for the people who
We’re also addressing one of the biggest cost drivers: make Michigan’s economy thrive. u
prescription drugs. By partnering with CivicaRx, we’re
helping bring more affordable generic medications
to market and pushing for greater regulation in
drug pricing. These steps don’t just lower costs for
members — they help stabilize the system for the
small businesses who provide coverage.

b
e
e
b
a
m
m
or
or
g
.
r
r
.
a
nsi
nsi
n
a
l lansingchamber.orgg 11 11 11
l
a
c
h
h
c
n
g
g