With the cost of employee healthcare benefits expected to increase next year at more than twice the rate of inflation, large U.S. employers are planning to have workers share more of the cost next year, according to a new survey by the National Business Group on Health.
The following points are key findings from the survey:
• More than half of respondents (53 percent) plan to increase the percentage that employees contribute to the premiums, while 39 percent plan to increase in-network deductibles.
• Additionally, about one in four employers plans to increase out-of-network deductibles (23 percent) and out-of-pocket maximums (22 percent) next year.
• Nearly three in four employers (73 percent) will offer employees at least one consumer-directed health plan in 2012.
• In response to healthcare reform, nearly 60 percent of employers are not making any changes for 2012 to annual benefit limits, (full restrictions on benefit limits will be banned in 2014). However, more than one-fourth are making changes to annual limits for preventive and wellness services. Another 14 percent are making changes to annual limits for mental health and substance abuse services.
Read the news release about employers' response to healthcare reform.
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The following points are key findings from the survey:
• More than half of respondents (53 percent) plan to increase the percentage that employees contribute to the premiums, while 39 percent plan to increase in-network deductibles.
• Additionally, about one in four employers plans to increase out-of-network deductibles (23 percent) and out-of-pocket maximums (22 percent) next year.
• Nearly three in four employers (73 percent) will offer employees at least one consumer-directed health plan in 2012.
• In response to healthcare reform, nearly 60 percent of employers are not making any changes for 2012 to annual benefit limits, (full restrictions on benefit limits will be banned in 2014). However, more than one-fourth are making changes to annual limits for preventive and wellness services. Another 14 percent are making changes to annual limits for mental health and substance abuse services.
Read the news release about employers' response to healthcare reform.
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