UBA is pleased to present the results of the 2010 UBA Health Plan Survey. The survey was conducted October 1, 2009 to June 4, 2010, through the joint effort of more than 145 of the nation’s premier independent benefit advisory firms who comprise UBA. Member Firms, in conjunction with existing clients, completed responses. Additional area employers were invited to complete the web-based surveys, as well. UBA obtained plan data for a total of 17,113 plans from 11,413 employers. The purpose of the survey is to provide employers with comparative data regarding plan costs, employee contributions, and plan designs that will allow them to benchmark their plan against those of similar employers. That evaluation can be based on employers with similar numbers of employees, employers in a similar industry, or employers in a similar geographic area. The survey focuses solely on active employee and retiree health plans and directly related benefits (prescription drugs, HRA/HSA, and Section 125 plans) in order to derive the most useful results possible. A significant strength of this study is its unique ability to support subgroup analyses. The national scope of the survey allows for regional, industry-specific, and employee size differentials to emerge from the data. In addition, the exceptionally large number of plans included allows for both a broader range of categories than normally reported and a larger number of respondents in each category. This is especially true for the small and mid-size companies who comprise the overwhelming majority of health plans in the country. We once again extend our thanks to all of the participating company representatives and benefits professionals who provided data for this report. Their efforts resulted in the largest number of employer-based plan cost/plan design benchmarks available in the marketplace. We trust you will find the information presented in this report to be of value in reviewing your existing programs and in charting your organizations future health plan strategy.
Consumer Driven Health Plans in the U.S. have surpassed HMO plans in covered employees. CDHPs grew at a rate of 18.1% this past year and are offered to more employees (20.1%) than HMO plans (18.7%) for the second consecutive year. The Northeast region of the country had the largest concentration of CDHPs (26.7%), followed by the Southeast and North Central region with 22.9% and 22.5% respectively. The average cost increase for all CDHPs at 7.3%, was slightly lower than that of the average of all plan types, which averaged an increase of 8.0% this year.
The Northeast region of the U S has the greatest number of employees enrolled on CDHPs in 2010. However, the southeast, which was the second highest in the number of CDHPs offered is fourth behind the North Central and Central regions in the percentage of employees actually enrolled in CDHPs. The southeast had 18.5% fewer employees enrolled than these two regions and 33% fewer than the Northeast.
PPO plans continue to be the dominants plan type offered to employees nationally still having approximately 20% more plans offered than HMOs and CDHPs combined. Fee For Service plans have become, by all practical measures, extinct and we will no longer separately report on this plan type going forward.
Of all the plan types offered by employers, PPO plans have nearly two-thirds of all enrolled employees (65.7%). Of all covered employees 52.9% elected to cover their dependents in addition to themselves. These ratios are very comparable the results of the 2009 UBA Health Plan Survey
The average increase for all plan types after carrier negotiations and all plan changes in 2010 was 8.0%. This is in contrast to the Initial renewal offer of 815.4%; a 48% reduction from the first renewal offer.
Eligibility provisions have continued to remain virtually unchanged irrespective of the current economic environment. Over ½ (54%) of all employers use a 30 hour eligibility requirement for their health plan(s).
……… and only 4.3 percent of the employers had a waiting period equal to or greater than 180 days.
In large firms with over 1,000 employees, both HMOs and CDHPs have over 60% of the eligible dependants participating, up substantially for HMO’s but CDHPs had nearly a 12% decline in the actual number of employees enrolled vs. 2009. All employers of this size average nearly 60% dependant participation, up 2.2% over 2009.
Across the board, there is a trend toward employee empowerment and participation when it comes to health care. Employees are taking more control over health care expenditures by increasing participation in CDHPs, and they are also realizing that there are financial benefits – in addition to health benefits – of participating in wellness programs. The previous summary is only a sampling of the key benchmarking data reveled in this year’s survey. For specific benefit plan information and to compare how your plan stacks up against the competition by region, industry and company size, contact your local UBA Member Firm. UBA also conducts 2 additional employer surveys that serve as companion pieces to the 2010 UBA Health Plan Survey. The 2009 UBA Employer Benefit Perspectives which delineates employers' positions and opinions on Employee Communications, Personal Health Management and Scope of Benefits Offered. And, the 2010 UBA Employer Opinion Survey which addressed employers' specific health care strategies, health benefits philosophy and opinion, health plan management, and Consumer Driven Health Care. A special supplement to the 2010 UBA Employer Opinion Survey is also available on our website, www.UBAbenefits.com where you can also locate your local UBA Member firm.