Employers and insurers surveyed anticipate increased incidence and duration of long-term absences, thanks to the health care reforms.

The retailer insists the decision was made independent of the Affordable Care Act. Rather, it was strictly the result of an internal audit of stores that indicated a new workforce design was needed, it said.

Citing a trend among other companies to refuse coverage to spouses employed by another company that offers coverage, the undated memo cites PPACA as providing the impetus for the design change.

Towers Watson says 88 percent of companies it surveyed plans to continue to offer employer subsidized health coverage plans to their workers.

While HR operations have been slow to integrate such tools into their daily operations, a Towers Watson survey indicates that they will be under pressure from the big bosses to do more.

A detailed look at health care spending indicators from the Altarum Institute suggests that price increases are really slowing down and that, overall, the health care sector may be losing steam as a contributor to the gross national product.

Its 2013 survey offers the latest evidence that families pay more for employer-sponsored coverage and generally receive fewer benefits through that coverage.

One of the major concerns insurers have is whether the millions of individuals who buy insurance when the PPACA kicks in will be able to send in a premium check promptly every month.