About 42 percent of While employees are used to comparison shopping when it comes to purchasing things like televisions or travel, very few do so when it comes to health care.(Photo: Shutterstock)

As the industry turns towards value-based health care, comprehensive health and wellness benefits are becoming a “need to have” rather than a “nice to have.” However, with a multitude of health and wellness tools and initiatives, employees are increasingly looking to their employers for education.

According to a recent survey from Maestro Health, 62 percent of consumers do not feel their employer serves as a resource for their health care-related questions. Employers are uniquely situated to empower employees to take control of their health and benefits, but will require a comprehensive, targeted engagement strategy to do so.

Here are a few ways employees can begin to engage with their employers in order to get the most out of their health care benefits:

1. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Benefits are notoriously intimidating and complicated. According to Maestro Health's survey, only 33 percent of respondents say they completely understand the health coverage offered to them through their employer. Don't hesitate to ask your HR representative for resources that use people-friendly language rather than the confusing jargon that's typically used. They may be able to refer you to online resources or provide materials that can explain things like the differences between high and low deductible plans and what to do if you receive an unexpected medical bill.

2. Take advantage of fitness benefits. If you have a gym membership or attend workout classes, you may already be one step ahead in lowering your health care costs. Not only can you reap the obvious health rewards from regular physical activity, but your employer may offer compensation or incentives for such healthy behaviors. In fact, 86 percent of employers offer financial incentives in their wellness programs according to a recent survey by the National Business Group on Health. Check in with your HR team to learn if there are any programs available to you.

3. Spend some quality time with your HR team. Benefits are often discussed in group settings, which can make it difficult to ask personalized coverage questions. Get some one-on-one time with HR to discuss the areas you care most about at a time that works for your schedule.

4. Do your homework. It's important to have a strong understanding of your options in order to improve your health and save money. For instance, you may find a startling difference in treatment or procedure costs by doing a bit of comparison shopping between health care facilities. While employees are used to comparison shopping when it comes to purchasing things like televisions or travel, very few do so when it comes to health care. A survey conducted by Health Affairs found that only three percent of consumers had compared costs prior to receiving services. Find out if your health plan offers transparency tools or a health care advocate to aid you in your comparison.

5. Don't leave un-used benefits on the table. With the rise in popularity of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), many employers also offer health savings accounts (HSAs) and/or flexible spending accounts (FSAs). Enrolling in these tax-advantaged accounts makes it easier to save for unexpected health care costs. In fact, many employees are beginning to supplement their retirement savings with HSAs. Unlike FSAs that require you to use a specified amount each year, unused HSA funds can rollover until you're ready to use them.

6. Be your own advocate. If you have a chronic or mental health condition, you may have access to services that are not widely discussed by your employer. Reach out to your HR team and ask if the services you need are available. If your company offers one-on-one meetings with nurses or wellness coaches, don't be afraid to reach out for help in personalizing your plan to your individual health goals.

7. Engage with your benefits in a way that works for you. Chances are, you didn't read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) start to finish. But that likely isn't your only option for learning about your benefits. Some health plans offer opt-in modes of communication like text and email that may work better for your lifestyle. Check with your HR or benefits provider to make sure you're interacting with your benefits via the communication channels you're most comfortable with, rather than the types you typically avoid.

Nancy Reardon is chief product and strategy officer at Maestro Health.

Read more:

• 3 ways to boost employee engagement and create a culture of success
• The 4 categories of health care consumer
• Are you giving employees the benefits experience they want?