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August 17, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Many large U.S. employers intend to increase employees’ in-network deductibles and employees’ share of the premiums in 2012.
The National Business Group on Health (NBGH), Washington, has reported those findings in a summary of results from a recent survey of 83 large employers that employ about 4 million people.
Half of the employers are assuming the increase in medical trend — the expected increase in the underlying costs — will be 7.5% in 2012. That’s down from a median increase assumption of 7.7% used in 2011 benefits budget estimates, but the increase will come at a time when the economy is still soft.
About 25% of the participants identified increasing employee cost-sharing as the best way to cut costs, and 23% citied offering a high-deductible health plan that incorporates a personal account as the best approach.
Only 13% are expecting to increase in-network deductibles more than 10%, but 39% are expecting to increase the in-networks at least a little.
