Top Strategies to deal with the Health Care Rise: Cost-Shifting and Wellness Promotion
Findings from PwC’s 2014 Health and Well-being Touchstone Survey of 1,200 employers from 35 industries, released in June show high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) continue to grow in popularity:
- 67 percent of employers offer HDHPs, up from 62 percent last year. Health savings account (HSA) compatible HDHPs are growing the fastest—47 percent in 2014, up from 39 percent last year.
- The in-network deductible in the highest enrolled plan is $1,000 or more (individual coverage) for 40 percent of employers, up from 22 percent in 2012.
- 44 percent of employers are considering offering a HDHP as a full replacement to their current plans, and 18 percent of employers now offer a HDHP as the only insurance option for their employees.
- HDHPs are now the highest enrolled plan for 26 percent of employers, up from 17 percent in 2012.
- Wellness continues to be a major investment for employers:
- 71 percent of employers offered wellness programs in 2014, up from 68 percent in 2013.
- Most common was an employee assisted program (EAP), followed by biometric screening, health risk questionnaire, tobacco cessation and physical activity program/fitness discount.
- 53 percent offer disease management programs, up from 49 percent in 2013. The most common programs were for diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- 25 to 30 percent are expanding their focus to broader definitions of well-being (financial, emotional, social, community, career).
Reference: S. Miller (6/24/2014) Medical Inflation Projected to Rise 6.8% in 2015, SHRM.org
