-- Employees are generally split between preferring low medical co- payments or low premiums. However, more than half of employees would accept fewer plan choices in order to keep their health premium costs low. -- About three in four employees would prefer to get health benefits through their employer rather than getting additional salary to purchase their own. -- More than half (57%) are at least somewhat opposed to having the employer contribution to their health plan premium treated as taxable income. -- About six in ten workers are not too willing to reduce their health benefits in order to improve their retirement benefits, or vice versa. -- Most employees (83%) would rather see their salary or retirement benefit reduced rather than health benefits if their employer need to reduce total compensation"The fact that so many employees are opposed to giving up any aspect of their health benefits, even in return for an improvement in other benefits, speaks volumes as to just how important they are from a worker and employer perspective," says Darling. "As the labor market tightens, employers will need to place an increased emphasis on their health benefits if they want to be able to compete for talented workers." Employers Satisfied with Health Plans At least seven in 10 workers consider their health plan to be excellent or very good at providing easy access to providers and covering a wide range of services, while two in three say their plan provides a sense of security that they will be able to afford good health care. Most employees (65%) feel their health coverage has remained the same over the past three years although six in ten say their costs have increased. The survey also found mixed support for charging smokers and obese employees more for health coverage. About two in three (65%) favor charging smokers more while one in four oppose the idea. Interestingly, the support for a higher premium doesn't change when participation in a smoking cessation program is taken into account. Meanwhile, more than half (51%) oppose an increase in costs for obese employees. "Providing cost-effective, high quality health care benefits to workers and their families is one of the greatest challenges that Corporate America is facing," says Ms. Darling. "Employers are spending millions and millions of dollars to provide health care benefits, and we hope the results of this survey will give them valuable insight from employees and help them develop and design programs that best meet their overall needs." About the Survey The national online survey was conducted in February 2007 by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc. on behalf of the National Business Group on Health. A total of 1,619 randomly selected workers participated in the survey. To participate, workers had to be age 22-69, be covered by their employer's health plan, currently work for an employer with at least 2,500 employees and be a decision-maker in their household regarding health care. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. About the National Business Group on Health The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit, membership organization of large employers devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to their most important health care and related benefits issues. The Business Group identifies and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information about the Business Group, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org
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