A third of those who responded indicated that the benefits education they received was "excellent" or "very good"–a drop from 37 percent in 2012 and the first time the highly satisfied percent had fallen since 2009. Twenty-seven percent rated the company's education process as only "fair" or "poor." Two-thirds said they thought they employers could do a better job of explaining benefits to them.

Unum said healthcare reform could be contributing to the educational rating decline.

See also: Workplace, benefits satisfaction at 6-year low

"The Affordable Care Act is raising lots of questions and leading to changes that extend beyond health coverage," explains Bill Dalicandro, vice president of Unum's Consumer Solutions Group. "Employees are making decisions about their benefits that they have never had to make before. It's vital for employers to provide the right tools and information for employees so they can understand their benefits options and choose the coverage that is right for them."

The survey queried respondents about their level of understanding of various types of company-sponsored insurance. The percentage who report a somewhat or very good understanding of:

• Life insurance – 74 percent;
• Vision insurance – 71 percent;
• Supplemental medical coverage – 40 percent; and
• Critical illness insurance – 47 percent.

Among other finding from the report:

• 48 percent whose employers offered long or short term disability insurance said no one explained disability insurance to them;
• 79 percent of workers who reviewed benefits in the past year and rated their education as excellent or very good also rate their employers as excellent or very good; and
• 30 percent of those who said the education they received was fair or poor rated their employers as excellent or very good.

See also: HSA holders don't understand accounts