Highlights of the survey, which elicited responses from nearly 600 benefits professionals, included:

96 percent of employers plan to continue to offer an employer-sponsored health plan;
82 percent say compliance with the law has led to increased costs this year;
71 percent believe the costliest years of complying with PPACA lie ahead;
33 percent believe the largest jump in compliance costs will take place in 2016;
27 percent believe that the largest cost increase will occur in 2018, when the Cadillac tax kicks in;
50 percent believe their current plan would trigger the tax, but just 3 percent say they plan to pay it.

Despite concerns about the Cadillac tax on rich health plans, only 20 percent see it as their largest cost factor in the years ahead. The costs of complying with administrative tasks related to the act, and reporting/disclosure/notification costs, were much higher, a combined 32 percent. That's because few think they'll be paying the tax directly. Instead, costs related to it will involve strategies to redesign plans so they don't trigger it.

Instant Insights /

Employers fear rising PPACA compliance costs

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