Results of national survey and benchmark study on employee healthcare benefits released

The results of a recent national survey and benchmark study on employee healthcare benefits are now available. The 2013 Healthcare Benefits Trends Benchmark Study report provides insights into the adoption of new healthcare benefits, health exchanges, wellness, and related topics. The research was sponsored by the Healthcare Trends Institute, an educational platform for employers, consumers, and other healthcare benefits stakeholders. 

The survey polled more than 300 human resources (HR) executives, benefit specialists, and other benefit decision-makers across the country to explore the current state of employee healthcare benefits, as well as the expected healthcare benefits outlook in response to sweeping healthcare reform legislation, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This includes the shift to defined contribution health plans, the launch of insurance exchanges, and the implementation of wellness plans. The complete 2013 Healthcare Benefits Trends Benchmark Study can be downloaded at http://www.evolution1.com/healthcare-trends-institute/2013-healthcare-benefits-trends-benchmark-study-results-now-available/.

"With many of the mandates of the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in 2014, we were interested in how employers of all sizes were preparing," said Tiffany Wirth, Executive Director, Healthcare Trends Institute. "This study reveals some of the trends in healthcare benefits occurring as a result."

The study found healthcare reform is prompting employers to look at defined contribution health plans and the use of health insurance exchanges in offering employee healthcare benefits in the future. When asked about their familiarity with Defined Contribution Plans (DCPs), 59.4 percent of respondents indicated they were somewhat-to-very familiar with them. Of those respondents who indicated they were interested in implementing DCPs for the future, the majority, 55.8 percent, were considering implement them in 2015.

When asked about health insurance exchanges, 62.1 percent indicated they were somewhat-to-very-familiar with them, and 55.5 percent were somewhat-to-very-familiar with them.