As health care costs continue to rise, the health of the employee population is becoming increasingly important. To help control these costs, employees should take more responsibility for their health, and employers are in a position to provide them with the right tools and resources to make better health care decisions, says Peter Saravis, CEO of Evive Health, a provider of health care communications in Chicago. While it is necessary for employees to take an active role in their health, employers also should help employees understand what should be done.

"If people have the knowledge and full information of what they need to do, they can manage their risks not only on an individual and family basis but as a steward of costs as an employee," Saravis says. To me, those two things go together. It's personal responsibility with clear information, direction and resources underneath them that allows them to make good decisions."

In Saravis' experience, providing detailed, personalized information to individual employees is helpful. This can include targeted health alerts, coverage information and contact information from previous physicians. The message should be focused on an employee's individual needs and history.