According to a recent nationwide study, more than half of workers are pleased with their employer-sponsored health plans and don’t want to change the balance between benefits and wages.
The survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found that 12% of respondents described themselves as “extremely satisfied’ with their plans, while 39% say they’re “very satisfied.” Another 37% found themselves “somewhat satisfied” with their coverage. Only 10% were not satisfied.
“By far, health insurance, in particular, continues to be the most important employee benefit to workers,” says survey author Paul Fronstin, director of the EBRI Health Research and Education Program. “While there may be a lot of questions about the future of the American Health insurance system,” adds study co-author Ruth Helman of Greenwald and Associates, “the majority of those who have health coverage like the plan they have.”
The study found workers uncertain whether employers will continue to offer them health insurance as dramatic changes to the system under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) take effect.
Most respondents like the greater variety of choices that the new law offers. However, they’re unsure whether they could choose coverage – much less the best plan – using the objective rating system in the ACA’s insurance exchanges. More than one in three (35%) would prefer to keep receiving health insurance from their current plans, while 45% would rather choose their plan and have their employers pay for it. Another 21% would like their employer give them money to spend on health coverage as they please.
As employee benefits specialists, it’s our job to keep you – and your workers – satisfied with your health plan. For more information, just give us a call.