OnSiteClinics.Org

2012 Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Survey

Mercer released the results of their annual survey in November of last year, so we apologize for getting the word out to you late (many of you have probably already read it).    The press release leads off with some amazing data including the fact that overall employers were able to hold the annual cost increase for health services for their employees to the lowest level reported since 1997 – or 15 years.  While the increase was 6.1% for 2011 it was down to 4.1% in 2012 in spite of all the national fervor over the Accountable Care Act and the continued roll-out of “Obamacare.”

This report included responses from 2,809 employers across the nation, and is widely viewed as highly reliable.    Some other statistics from the report:

• The number of employers offering health insurance rose from 55% to 59% (year-to-year) and that increase primarily came from very small employers (those with 10-49 employees)
• CDHPs (consumer-driven health plans) increased in plan offerings from 17% to 22% (in the past two years)
• 78% of leadership indicated that health management programs are the primary means of reducing health care costs and promoting healthy behaviors in their employee