The upheaval in today's health care marketplace, including passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is resulting in increased complexity and confusion for employers when it comes to the benefits they offer. For employees, the changes can mean a lack of understanding about their benefits, what coverages they really need and how they will pay for them. Ultimately, it can leave workers feeling vulnerable about their financial security.

A recent survey from Unum revealed that many working Americans are still struggling with anxiety over their finances. The survey found that feelings of financial security are closely tied to employee ratings of their benefits package, and employee satisfaction with their benefits package continues to be closely related to satisfaction with their employer. Unfortunately, benefits package ratings reached their lowest point in six years of research with this most recent survey.

More education needed