Medical costs are expected to increase 9 percent in 2011, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The report also found that wellness programs and increased cost-sharing are among the top planned design changes.
Two-thirds of employers plan to expand or improve their wellness programs. Forty-two percent will increase employee contributions for health insurance coverage, and 41 percent will increase medical cost-sharing. Only 26 percent will increase prescription drug cost sharing.
The report identified three "deflators" that will help beat down health costs. Employers are shifting away from co-pays in favor of co-insurance, and are increasing deductibles. High-deductible plans are the primary plan for 13 percent of employers, up from 6 percent in 2008. Additionally, generic drugs account for 80 percent of all prescriptions, according to the report. Furthermore, drugs worth about $26 billion in annual sales are expected to lose their patents in 2011.
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