Employers Considering Health Care Cost-Control Measures

Employers expect that health care benefits costs will increase an average of 7% in 2013. That’s the same increase they projected for this year, but smaller than employers experienced the previous three years.   

Despite being able to” hold the line” on increases, six in ten employers (60%) plan to increase the percentage of the premium paid by employees in 2013, although the majority of those employers indicated that the increase would be by a small amount (less than 5%). Additionally, 40% plan to increase in-network deductibles while roughly one-third will increase out-of-network deductibles (33%) and out-of pocket maximums (32%).   

While many employers continue to adopt cost-sharing provisions, survey respondents now consider consumer-directed health plans (CDHP) and wellness initiatives to be more effective at stemming costs than shifting costs to employees. According to the survey, 43% cited a CDHP as the most effective cost control tactic followed by wellness programs (19%). Less than one in ten (9%) respondents reported increased employee cost-sharing as the most effective tactic. Last year, cost shifting was cited as the most effective measure.  

The survey found that employers – in their efforts to engage employees in healthy behaviors and lifestyles – continue to experiment with and perfect the best ways to incorporate financial incentives into wellness programs. While nearly half of respondents (48%) use incentives to encourage participation in programs, some employers are basing incentives on specific health outcomes. More than four in ten (44%) provide an incentive based upon tobacco-use status while three in ten (29%) base awards upon achievement of outcomes such as body mass index (BMI) or cholesterol levels. Just under one fourth of respondents (22%) take a different approach – applying surcharges to employees for not participating in certain programs.  

Respondents were asked what changes they made or are planning to make as regulations from the Affordable Care Act continue to come into effect.   

Half (50%) indicated they no longer have any annual benefit limits in place, while nearly one-third (32%) reported that they did not make any changes to their annual limits this year. Among employers making changes for 2013, the most common benefits requiring adjustments to their annual limits were mental health and substance abuse (9%) and rehabilitative services and devices (9%).  

The majority of respondents (57%) did not have any benefit option in grandfathered status this year, compared to 49% last year. However, more than one-fourth (27%) will have at least one grandfathered health plan this year.  

More than half of respondents (51%) believe that some retirees might find state health insurance exchanges to be a viable option for health insurance. More than one-third (38%) felt that COBRA plan participants might consider exchanges, while 35% felt that part-time employees might consider exchanges.