Q. I own a small graphic design firm and have fewer than 10 employees. Providing health insurance for me and my employees is becoming more and more expensive. Before I increase my workers’ contributions to the cost or even stop providing insurance, I’m hoping you have suggestions on how I can save money on the premiums so it’s not such a burden.

A. The rising cost of health care remains a major concern for small-business owners, who have seen double-digit premium increases for years.

To learn more about what a small business can do, I checked with Shawn Dangle, small-business insurance specialist and licensed agent at eHealthInsurance.com.

First of all, I’d have a discussion with employees to explain the situation and learn more about what they value. If employees understand the challenges this presents to your business, it may make picking up a greater share of the cost easier to tolerate.

Talking to employees can also help identify the benefits they really need and want. Keep in mind it’s illegal to ask specifics about their health history or what kinds of benefits they use most. But you can find out if they’re interested in benefits like chiropractic care or dental insurance.

You may also create an anonymous survey to find out what benefits they value most or if they would prefer higher monthly premiums with low deductibles, or vice versa.

Finally, it can pay to shop around and explore new options. Some experts say it’s a good idea to shop for coverage at least every two years to be sure you’re still getting the best deal.