Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits: A Year in Review - GoLocalProv

Monday, December 27, 2021

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The recently released Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) 2021 Employer Health Benefits Survey reveals that the average family premiums rose 4% this year to top $22,000. And that's not the only takeaway from the annual review of workplace health benefits. Other key findings from 2021 include:

Higher Employee Contributions: Workers on average are contributing $5,969 towards the cost of family coverage, with employers paying the rest. And the average single deductible for workers who have one increased slightly to $1,669 this year.

Expanded Mental Health Benefits: Among companies with at least 50 workers that offer health benefits, 39% report making changes to their mental health and substance abuse benefits since the beginning of COVID-19, such as allowing employees to access services through telemedicine.

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Rise of Telemedicine: 65% of employers with at least 50 workers made changes to their telemedicine benefits, including increasing promotion of the service, and extending coverage for additional modes, and expanding the number or types of providers.

Evolving Wellness: Over half of businesses with 50 or more employees changed their wellness programs because of COVID-19, with the most common the addition of online counseling services and expanded programs to better meet the needs of employees working from home.

KFF found, "Among firms with at least 50 workers that offer health benefits, almost four in 10 (39%) report making changes to their mental health and substance abuse benefits since the beginning of the pandemic.

This includes 31% who increased the ways enrollees can access mental-health services, such as through telemedicine; and 16% who offered new mental health resources, such as an employee assistance program. Small shares say they expanded their in-network mental health and substance abuse providers (6%), waived or reduced cost-sharing for related services (4%) or increased coverage for out-of-network services (3%)."

The survey was conducted between January and July of 2021.

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Sam Slade is Managing Director, Employee Benefits, at The Hilb Group of New England, where he delivers consulting and brokerage services to local employers. He has extensive experience in all aspects of employee benefits, including underwriting, plan design, communications, compliance, and analytics, with a particular focus on alternative funding and self-insurance. Sam lives in South Kingstown with his wife and three sons.  

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