A majority of large U.S. employers are moving forward with plans to make changes to their 2011 health care benefit programs in the wake of both health reform and expected large health benefit cost increases next year, according to a new survey by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of large employers.
The survey, which was based on responses from 72 of the nation's largest corporations, found that 53 percent of respondents are still planning to make changes to their benefit plans despite the uncertainty that exists around complying with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In particular, 70 percent of employers said they will remove lifetime dollar limits on overall benefits, and 26 percent said they will remove annual dollar limits on overall benefits.
Employers estimate their health care benefit costs will increase an average of 8.9 percent next year, compared with an average increase of 7 percent this year. To help control those increases, employers are planning to use a wider variety of cost-sharing strategies. Specifically, the survey found 63 percent of employers plan to increase the percentage employees contribute to the premium, while 46 percent plan to raise out-of-pocket maximums.
Read the National Business Group on Health release on employer health plans.
The survey, which was based on responses from 72 of the nation's largest corporations, found that 53 percent of respondents are still planning to make changes to their benefit plans despite the uncertainty that exists around complying with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In particular, 70 percent of employers said they will remove lifetime dollar limits on overall benefits, and 26 percent said they will remove annual dollar limits on overall benefits.
Employers estimate their health care benefit costs will increase an average of 8.9 percent next year, compared with an average increase of 7 percent this year. To help control those increases, employers are planning to use a wider variety of cost-sharing strategies. Specifically, the survey found 63 percent of employers plan to increase the percentage employees contribute to the premium, while 46 percent plan to raise out-of-pocket maximums.
Read the National Business Group on Health release on employer health plans.