Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Survey: 2014 Benefit Plan Design Trends - More Cost Shifting to Employees

The 2014 Medical Plan Trends Report from HighRoads and CEB shows that companies are starting to evolve their benefits plans in response to PPACA. Top findings include:
  • Two-thirds of 2014 medical plans have individual, in-network out-of-pocket maximums (OOPMs) of $2,500 or more. This is up from 58 percent of plans in 2013, and 49 percent in 2012.
  • 42 percent of plans charge coinsurance for office visits, up from 35 percent in 2013.
  • Emergency room (ER) visit co-pays have increased by roughly $3 per year since 2009, with a 2014 average of $113 per visit.
  • The percentage of plans with high deductibles grew by 2 percent in 2014 from 23 percent to 25 percent.