Switching gears
Manufacturers are choosing the Surest health plan to help reduce costs and drive affordability.
Embracing and adapting to technology is part of what moves manufacturing forward. While innovations in facilities and production are common, manufacturers are also looking to technology to help reduce costs for health care benefits.
Addressing Affordability
As health care costs continue to rise in the U.S., the trend has disproportionately impacted small- to mid-size employers in the manufacturing sector.1 In fact, the Employment Cost Index for total compensation in manufacturing, which includes employee wages and benefits, continued to climb in 2024, gaining 3.8% year over year.2
As employers look to provide comprehensive medical coverage without raising or shifting costs or forcing other cost-cutting measures in their business, the digital-first design of the Surest copay-only health plan is gaining attention.
Innovation that delivers price visibility and certainty
The Surest health plan is built with a digital-first approach, allowing its members to shop and compare health care options in advance. Through the Surest app, members can view providers, actual copays, and treatment options to help them—and their employer—save money. This shift to information sharing—before care—changes how members use their health insurance to improve their health and reduce health care expenses.
For manufacturing clients, this proactive approach to health care is adding up:
According to Manufacturing Today, employees attempting to access their benefits can feel overwhelmed and often make uninformed choices about their health and, by extension, their finances.4 The article goes on to state that this is a particular concern with employees on Minimum Essential Coverage and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) plans who may have even more questions about their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
Surest is a full-service, ACA-compliant, employer-sponsored health plan that’s often a low-contribution alternative to an HDHP and more affordable for low-earning workers. With a $0 deductible and cost predictability, the Surest plan starts working for employees on day one, rather than waiting to meet a deductible before the benefit kicks in. The copay listed is the price for care, not an estimate. And health services that are often performed at the same visit, like labs and imaging, are combined into a single all-in copay to help prevent unexpected bills and confusion for members.
Manufacturing engagement is strong, driving behavior change
Further underscoring the need for affordable health care benefits, a study from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) showed rising health care costs as a top concern for U.S. manufacturers, with 58.9% of respondents citing it as a significant challenge affecting their competitiveness.1
Giving employees more control over their health care expenses can provide a competitive advantage for total compensation, as well as the bottom line. The Surest plan is designed to offer meaningful interactions within a digital experience so members can make real-time decisions about where, when, and how much to pay for care. When members understand that they can search for cost and care options in advance—without a deductible or coinsurance getting in the way—they’re less likely to skip care and more likely to engage and be proactive about their health. In fact, only 1% of Surest members hit their OOPM.5
Signals within the Surest app and the copay structure help drive members to choose effective and efficient care options, often priced lower. Specifically, manufacturers saw:
Surest uses data analytics within the digital experience, so when members engage or search for expensive care like surgery, they are presented with surgery options as well as less invasive, less costly options to consider. “Others felt better with” suggestions are presented to members alongside their original search so they can compare and consider options, as well as prices, which may help them avoid unnecessary or expensive care options.
Simplicity supports total rewards
A study conducted by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute in 2024 showed that 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled over the next 10 years if talent challenges are not addressed.2 To support long-term talent needs, providing quality health benefits that are affordable—for the employee and employer—is essential to attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.
The Surest health plan offers comprehensive medical coverage with access to a large network of 1.7 million providers and 6,000 hospitals, ensuring quality care is always within reach. Members don’t need to designate a Primary Care Provider (PCP), making it easy to access the care they need.
Through the app (or Benefits.Surest.com), members can search for and evaluate care at their convenience—24/7—with access to information like:
- Provider and specialty options
- Actual copays (not estimates)
- What’s included in a visit
- Patient-submitted ratings and reviews
- Surest Care Ratings (Tip: Higher Care Ratings = High-v
By allowing employees to take ownership of their health—who to see, how much to pay, and what type of care to get—they become active participants in their health and managing their health care expenses.
The result? More manufacturers are choosing the Surest plan and so are their employees:
See more client and member success stories.
- https://plasticsbusinessmag.com/articles/2024/us-manufacturers-face-threat-of-increasing-healthcare-rates-seek-answers-to-protecting-margins/
- https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing/manufacturing-industry-outlook.html
Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or its affiliates. B2B_25-AI- 1215450_0725