A new kind of health-insurance option could help employers reduce their premiums by as much as 50 percent. These Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs for short, work like this: participants must have a plan with a high deductible, where insurance coverage doesn't kick in until they have paid at least $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 for family coverage. In exchange for the out-of-pocket spending increase, consumers can use a tax-free savings account to pay for their medical expenses. Employers, employees, or both can contribute to the accounts, which can roll over from year to year.

Larger companies are expected to start offering the plans within the next year, with an estimated savings of 30 to 50 percent. Because employees are paying much of their expense themselves, rather than with a flat-fee copay, they will be more likely to consider costs and opt for less expensive options.

Critics of the program say that it will burden the sick and the poor with increased costs and may discourage people from seeking preventative care or medical care when they need it. However, the IRS has ruled that insurers can opt to cover preventative measures like mammograms and immunizations, even before people meet their deductibles.

Supporters of the program say that employees can receive financial benefits from the program. The average worker contributes $840 a year for individual coverage but 52 percent of those employees spend less than $500 on medical services per year. These people can save their money for a time in the future when they might need it. The accounts are also portable and can be taken from one job to the next, and some even offer investment options for those who want to take the risk of possibly increasing their money.

Education is key to making the switch to the HSA work. Nurse phone lines and web-based programs can help consumers make educated decisions about their medical care.