The report highlights the importance of employers understanding what employees are looking for in a benefits program, which can support a greater approach to overall benefits enrollment, utilization and, ultimately, cost savings for employers and employees. Based on additional report findings, key areas of focus for today's employers include:

Help employees make optimal health plan selections. More than 8 in 10 employers offer their employees a choice of plans. Although 64% of enrollees selected a traditional plan in plan this year, enrollment in high-deductible plans is increasing across most generations.
Offer solutions to help employees across all generations manage health care costs. Although the employer share of premiums was 78% for plan year 2024, up from 74% in 2022, employees also face higher costs, a challenge that can be addressed by considering generational differences.

Raise awareness. According to Voya research, only 3% of working Americans surveyed understood the full benefits of HSAs by correctly selecting all options (compared to 2% in 2020). This suggests that employees need more effective education, guidance and support to consider how one choice might affect another.
Consider voluntary benefits that add value to employees' whole-person well-being. Employees across all generations are taking advantage of accident, critical illness/specified disease and hospital indemnity insurance, along with ID theft, legal and pet benefits

"As employers evolve their workplace benefits and savings offerings to optimize outcomes and help manage increasing health care costs, the need for a holistic benefits package that supports a diverse workforce is necessary to remain competitive," Frend said. "It's essential that employers understand what employees are looking for in a benefits program."

Instant Insights /

Younger workers shift to HDHPs, prompting employers to offer wider options

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