Despite uncertainty about the future of health care, and their own concerns about the rising cost of providing health care to their workers, employers are still investing in their employees' long-term health and productivity. A new survey by Hewitt Associates found that 42 percent of employers have a formal health care plan in place, consistent with last year. Additionally, 80 percent say offering competitive benefits is a key component of that strategy.
Hewitt reports that while a minority of employers actually has a health care strategy in place, the number of employers who recognize that tailored programs lay the "best foundation for future change" is increasing. Over half of employers surveyed already have a disease management program in place, and of those who don't, 11 percent will implement one this year, and 75 percent plan to implement one in the next three to five years.
Mental health and absence management programs have a smaller following, but interest is growing, Hewitt reports. Just over one-third of employers have implemented behavioral health initiatives like employee assistance programs, but 58 percent plan to do so in the next three to five years. A similar percentage (56 percent) plan to add absence management programs to their current plans in the next three to five years.
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And, employers are taking aggressive steps to increase participation. The study found 60 percent of employers consider the diversity of their work force when designing and communicating plans. More than half of employers offer incentives to encourage their workers to participate in health care programs. Furthermore, 24 percent extend incentives to workers' family members. Penalties, while slightly less popular at only 18 percent, are increasing. Twenty-nine percent of employers say they will implement penalties for non-participants in the next three to five years.
The measure of a plan is still how well it manages costs, however. Fifty-eight percent of employers said the used cost management to measure their plan's success, and 57 percent said they used how well their programs were being utilized. Fewer than one in five employers tracked changes in behavior as a measure of success, but more than 50 percent say they will begin doing so in the future.
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