From left are Lauren Bayha, CAHIP NorCal President, Dr. Khuram Arif, President & CEO Western Health Advantage and Dr. Tina Johnson, Sacramento Market President Dignity Health discuss investments health insurance carriers are making to help reduce costs to consumers. Photo by Corinne Huey

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – Healthcare professionals from across California gathered Wednesday, Aug. 26, for the California Agents and Health Insurance Professionals Northern California (CAHIP NorCal) Business Expo, “Stronger Together,” for a day of education, conversation and collaboration focused on some of the most pressing issues facing the healthcare and employee benefits industry.

A central theme throughout the event was one that continues to affect employers, brokers and consumers alike: the rising cost of healthcare and what the industry can do to make care more affordable.

Speakers and industry leaders explored healthcare affordability from multiple perspectives, including alternative funding strategies, wellness and prevention, healthcare pricing and transparency and opportunities to use data more effectively to help employers and consumers make informed decisions.

“Healthcare affordability is an issue that affects every part of our industry, but there is also a tremendous amount of innovation happening right now,” said Lauren Bayha, CAHIP NorCal president. “Bringing people together to share ideas and learn from one another is an important part of finding solutions that ultimately create better outcomes for employers and the people they serve.”