6 changes employees could see at open enrollment
September 19, 2013 1:18 PM
Aon Hewitt has compiled a list of what could be the most common changes American workers see in their health plans, including more consumer-driven health plans and defined contribution insurance arrangements. Employers should encourage employees to do their homework and make the most informed benefits decisions they can. Here are six shifts for which they should be ready.
1. Higher cost
The majority of employers plan to subsidize health coverage at the same percentage as last year, but with costs continuing to climb, paycheck contributions will climb with them. Nearly one in five employers has upped surcharges for adult dependents with access to coverage elsewhere, Aon Hewitt found in a new whitepaper.
2. More options
State and federal marketplaces could greatly increase the number of health plan choices for some workers, particularly those who employers are ceasing or never have offered employer-sponsored plans.
3. More consumer-driven health
Consumer-driven health plans continue to rise in popularity and have surpassed HMOs as the second most offered plans by employers, Aon Hewitt reports. In fact, a growing number of employers are offering CDHPs as the only plan option. While just 10% of companies do so today, another 44% are considering it in the next three to five years.
4. Health awareness and education gets a push
Three-fourths of employers now offer health risk questionnaires and nearly that many offer biometric screenings for things like blood pressure or cholesterol. Even those employers sticking with more traditional health plans are often encouraging participants to take a more active role therein.
5. Incentives for healthy behaviors
Aon Hewitt found 83% of employers offer some kind of incentive be it reward or penalty for healthy or risk-reducing behaviors.
6. New eligibility rules
Employers may be making changes to rules that determine which employees are eligible for health coverage, particularly as they evaluate requirements of the employer mandate provision of ACA, the Aon Hewitt whitepaper reported. In addition, the recent Supreme Court decision that resulted in federal recognition of same-sex marriages may mean more dependents will now be eligible for benefits coverage.
