Health care costs are rising faster than inflation, and companies are aggressively revamping benefit options. Skyrocketing health care costs place pressure on employers and employees. Health care costs rose 13.9 percent this year, the third consecutive year of hefty increases.

Employers are trying to reduce double-digit cost increases by making changes to the health care plans, shifting more of the expense to employees by raising premiums and deductibles, or offering more choices for medical care. Employers, employees, health care professionals and government officials are all questioning the old ways of providing health care coverage, and trying to find new solutions.

Some companies, like Sears, are moving away from fixed-dollar co-payments to programs that require workers to pay a percentage of each medical bill. P&G has increased co-payments and reduced prescription drug coverage. A few companies are providing company-operated clinics that treat employees and their families.

SAS is one company that has its own medical facility. Employees have the option of using outside doctors, but 50 percent use the SAS health care center for primary care, and 90 percent use it each year for things like lab tests and flu shots. SAS believes the facility has helped reduce turnover and, consequently, recruitment costs. It also saves money on medically-related costs.

A new trend is a consumer-driven health care plan, which gives employees an annual cash allowance to spend on medical care. Others believe that a national health care plan is needed, funded either through employer payroll taxes or by taxing personal income. Disease management programs promote exercise and healthy lifestyles, but haven't been proven to actually save money.

The key to finding a solution to the health care crisis is for companies to understand where the costs are coming from. Employer sponsored health insurance is not likely to go away anytime soon.