The days of employer-paid benefits are disappearing faster than a snow cone in July — especially when you consider that most companies are not helping to offset the costs for much more than major medical and physician care for their workers. And, the sticker shock for premium increases has just barely begun. Just wait until 2015! However, in spite of increased health care costs, voluntary benefits are still popular even if employees are left to pick up the tab.

A new study reports that 65 percent of employees say it's important that their employer offer these products. However, 47 percent of employees surveyed haven't been offered an additional voluntary product since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was implemented in 2010. These statistics were derived from an online nationwide survey recorded by Harris Interactive on behalf of Transamerica Employee Benefits, a marketing unit of Transamerica Life Insurance Company.

"Employee benefits are one of the most important factors in recruiting and retaining good employees. A robust package that includes voluntary products helps employers acquire and retain a talented, productive workforce," said Randy Clarkson, TEB president. "This is especially true now with the diverse needs of employees." According to TEB, the voluntary products becoming increasingly more important due to health care reform include critical illness, accident, supplemental medical expense, hospital indemnity and cancer, and dental and vision policies.