March 12 (Bloomberg) — Four of five companies have raised deductibles or are considering doing so as health costs increase, according to a survey of more than 700 employers.

About one-third of the companies have already increased deductibles or other cost-sharing provisions like copays, and 48 percent are considering similar moves, the survey by New York-based consulting firm Mercer found.

Employers are looking for ways to trim expenses as health- care costs continue to rise and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act increases the benefits that are required. United Parcel Service Inc. dropped coverage for employed spouses and Home Depot Inc. sent 20,000 part-time workers to government- sponsored insurance websites.

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