Recognized as the only source for local and regional health plan data, Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols offers employers free benefits benchmarking report, the nation’s largest health plan survey that cites key trends in employer health plans.
 

In spite of the passage of health care reform efforts, health care costs will continue to increase for both plan sponsors and their employees, according to Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols (CCF&N), a Partner Firm of United Benefit Advisors (UBA), the nation’s largest independent benefits advisory organization. Preliminary results released by UBA from its 2012 UBA Health Plan Survey, the nation’s largest health plan survey with 17,905 plans from 11,711 employers — and the only one of its kind to offer local benefits benchmarking capabilities — show some startling trends in employer health plans.

The 2012 UBA Health Plan Survey won’t be available to the public until November 1, 2012, but Florida employers can get inside access to the hundreds of thousands of pages of granular state, regional and industry data through a free benchmarking report offered by contacting CCF&N (see contact information below).  With more Partner Firms located in virtually all U S markets, UBA uniquely provides employers of all sizes the data they need to remain competitive in their local markets.

CCF&N can provide employers with a free benchmarking report for their region, industry and size, so businesses can determine which types of plans are most popular in their area, which plans are being phased out, average employee costs and participation, and hundreds of thousands more pieces of highly relevant information that can help them negotiate their rates and communicate their plan advantages to employees.

Some key national statistics from this year’s survey results:

• Consumer driven health plans (CDHPs) declined in the percentage of plans offered for the first time since 2007.
• UBA Member Firms clients’ average renewal for all plan types increased by 5 percent.
• PPO plans have nearly two-thirds of all enrolled employees (61.7 percent).
• The average monthly employee contribution for plans with contributions for all plan types is $126 for single and $494 for family.
• The average employer contribution to a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) was down from 2011 for a single employee and up for a family. Employer health savings account (HSA) contributions continued to decline.
• Four-fifths of all wellness plans (81 percent) offered a health risk assessment.
• As a direct result of PPACA changes, 91.7 percent of all plans now offer an unlimited lifetime maximum benefit compared with 81.3 percent in 2011 and just 16.1 percent in 2010.
• Less than half (48.0 percent) of all covered employees also elected to cover their dependents, a decline of 1.9 percent.

As health care plan offerings and the federal regulatory environment become more complex, benchmarking data such as the 2012 UBA Health Plan Survey have become increasingly critical for employers looking to manage their health care benefit programs effectively.

“The intent of the survey is to provide employers of all sizes with the data they need to manage their health care benefit programs effectively,” says Sheryl Conrad, President of Employee Benefits at CCF&N.  “Employers will find the United Benefit Advisors (UBA) Health Plan Survey provides more participants and data in their category than other industry surveys. And for employers who have operations in multiple locations, this survey is the only source of reliable regional – and in many cases, state – health plan benchmarks by size and industry.”

ABOUT THE 2012 UBA HEALTH PLAN SURVEY – With responses from 17,905 health plans sponsored by 11,711 employers nationwide, the 2012 UBA Health Plan Survey is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive survey of plan design and plan cost benchmarks. As the largest survey of its kind, the UBA Health Plan Survey defines benchmarks by a greater number of specific industries, regions and employer size categories than is available from any other resource. The 2011 UBA Benefit Opinions Survey (which delineates employers’ positions and opinions on Health Care Strategy, Health Benefits Philosophy and Opinion, Health Plan Management, Personal Health Management, Employee Communication, and Scope of Benefits Offered) serves as a companion piece to the 2012 UBA Health Plan Survey.

CONTACT:
Mick Constantinou, Employee Benefits Advisor
Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols
mconstantinou@ccfninsurance.com
800-797-0411

(Photo credited to: ehow.com)

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, and based on particular situations, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice, financial advice and/or the advice of a licensed insurance or certified human resource professional.

© Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols 2012