Most enrollees in employer-sponsored coverage have a choice of 2 to 4 plans.

Twenty-seven percent of respondents in traditional plans had no choice, one-quarter could choose between two plans, 26% were offered three plans, 13% had a choice among four or more plans and 4% had a choice but didn't know how many plans were offered.
For high-deductible plans, 23% had no choice, 27% had two options, 31% could choose among three plans, 14% had a choice of four or more plans and 2% had multiple choices but didn't know how many.

Traditional plan enrollees placed greater importance on lower out-of-pocket costs when receiving care, while high-deductible plan enrollees placed greater importance on lower premiums. Prescription drug coverage increased in importance compared with previous years.

Eighty percent of traditional plan enrollees ranked a good network of hospitals as very important, followed by low out-of-pocket cost when using a doctor (75%), prescription drug coverage (74%), lower premium costs (72%), simple to understand (69%) and specific coverage included in the plan (62%).
Enrollees in high-deductible plans ranked a good network of hospitals (76%) as their top priority, followed by lower premium cost (72%), prescription drug coverage (70%), low out-of-pocket cost when using a doctor (68%), simple to understand (63%) and specific coverage included in plan (59%).

Despite widespread familiarity with consumer-directed health plans, concerns about out-of-pocket costs continued to be the most common reason traditional plan enrollees did not select these options. Sixty-three percent of respondents were extremely, very or somewhat familiar with consumer-directed health care or consumer-driven health care plans in 2025, compared with 66% in 2024. For high-deductible plans, 67% had this level of familiarity in 2025 vs. 76% the previous year.

Instant Insights /

Provider networks outrank premiums as the top factor in health plan selection

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