The high cost of health insurance is driving some employers to look into innovative ways to maintain group health insurance, but also keep expenses down. The Kaiser Family Foundation says that health insurance costs rose 4.4 percent in 2008, a smaller increase than seen in previous years.

One way some employers are trying to keep costs down is through preventative care measures. Interactive programs, like Medforma's next-generation health portrait platform, allows employers to get an idea of how healthy their staff is.

"With our latest advancements, employers will receive invaluable information to help them better manage health costs and wellness investments," said Medforma CEO Kye Anderson. "At less than $50 per employee per year, our platform is highly affordable, but the advantages are substantial, especially considering the high cost of keeping employees healthy and productive."

Medforma asserts that the majority of health care costs come from diseases that are preventable. Conditions like type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even prevented if appropriate actions are taken. Monitoring programs may help detect lifestyle shortcomings and alert people to take steps to make them healthier before conditions develop.