Purchasers were also asked which market forces significantlythreaten the affordability of employer-sponsored plans, and by farthe greatest threat is the price of drugs. (Image:Shutterstock)

Professionals responsible for buying employer-sponsored healthinsurance at their organizations could handle it if the nextpresident and Congress were to be successful in getting a public option added to the list of choices onthe Affordable Care Act exchanges – but a complete scrapping to bereplaced by Medicare for All, not so much, according to thelatest survey by the National Alliance ofHealthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

Ninety purchasers for employers that are members of coalitionsaffiliated with the National Alliance were polled, and just over athird (34 percent) say that a Medicare public option couldbe a helpful reform for their employer health and well-being strategies, while another 29 percentare neutral.

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However, more than 52 percent say that "Medicare for All" wouldbe somewhat or very hurtful.

As for other potential reforms, most of the respondents (84percent) say that hospital price transparency could be helpful to theirstrategies and 46 percent say it could be very helpful. Similarly,72 percent say that rate regulation could be helpful and 44 percentsay it could be very helpful.

"We've reached the tipping point of what employers, theiremployees and family members can bear for health care costs," saysMichael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. "Whilegovernment action is not the first choice, if market dynamics don'tchange it may be our only choice."

Purchasers were also asked which market forces significantlythreaten the affordability of employer-sponsored plans, and by farthe greatest threat is the price of drugs (94.38 percent).

Other threats include hospital prices (80 percent); industryconsolidation (51.16 percent); lack of transparency (67.05percent); intermediary conflicts of interest (39.08 percent); andsurprise medical bills (37.08 percent).

What's needed to create a more sustainable health system?Purchasers' top responses include clear and consistent pricing fromhospitals and providers; better aligning incentives for healthcareproviders; increasing quality Centers of Excellence at the locallevel; transparency in pricing and quality indicators; reduction infraud, waste and errors; and elimination of pharmacy rebates.

Read more:

• What do employees think of their health insuranceplans?
• 10 states paying the most for employer-sponsoredhealth care premiums
• New HRA rules could allow businesses to circumventACA's employer mandate