Four recent surveys confirm the notion that the majority of employers will continue to offer employer-sponsored health benefits in 2012 and beyond. The national surveys, conducted by Mercer, Towers Watson Health Care, GfK and Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust, yielded fairly consistent results that indicate employers overall continue to view their health benefits plans as a key component of the employee benefit offerings. The survey feedback also confirms that few employers plan to terminate their health benefit plans when state health insurance exchanges, mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), become operational in the fall of 2013.
Mercer Study
Mercer's 2011 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans involved responses from 2,844 employers in both the public and private sector with 10 or more employees. Despite employers' concerns about the impact of reform," Mercer said in a statement, "when asked how likely they are to terminate their health care plans after state-run insurance exchanges become operational, the great majority says 'not likely.'"
Enrollments in employer health benefits plans increased by 2% over the previous year, according to the study. This increase was attributed to a PPACA provision that requires coverage be extended to dependents up to age 26. Specifically, employers in the survey anticipate an additional 2% increase when PPACA's rule requiring employers to automatically enroll newly hired, or newly eligible, full-time employees into a health plan becomes effective in 2014. Employers questioned do not support the contention that PPACA would cut the cost of health insurance benefits. Forty-five percent of the respondents think PPACA will increase their costs. Fifteen percent said it would not increase their costs and 29% were uncertain of the ultimate impact.
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