benefits of preventive care can help a company make the case to other employers for investing in preventive services.

As employers face increases in the cost of their health plans—Ms. Hymel reported a 14 percent increase for Hughes Corporation—employers must make decisions about the benefits to offer and the costs to pass on to employees through premiums, copayments, and coverage limits. In response to a question, Ms. Hymel noted the availability of health insurance products with a lump-sum benefit for preventive services. Although she does not favor that approach, some employers are considering it. Ms. Hymel concluded by observing that although employers are unlikely to lead immunization campaigns, they are likely to offer support based on good business reasons, such as improved productivity and lower health care costs.