Health care trends in today's marketplace.

As the year 2000 approaches, it is apparent that employer-sponsored health plans will again begin to experience high rate increases. Employers will need to utilize an up-to-date benefits philosophy and health plan purchasing strategy coupled with monitoring tools and vendor performance guarantees to deal with the situation. While many of the cost drivers are beyond an employer's control, taking a preemptive strike at health care inflation through design, cost sharing and other focused initiatives will minimize its impact.