Employee input and health care cost-containment strategies.
Health insurance premiums have risen steadily in recent years, and many employers are coping by increasing employee premium contributions. The danger with cost shifting is that a substantial number of employees will refuse offered insurance because of the escalating contribution required of them. The authors surveyed employees regarding what aspects of their insurance benefits they would be willing to give up if their policies were to be substantially trimmed. The responses were varied and influenced by income, education, current contribution to premium, and health status. Interestingly, few employees outside of unions strategize with their employers about how best to structure health insurance benefits to keep them affordable.
Schiff
Maria
M
Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, Boston, USA. Maria.Schiff@state.ma.us
Schuster
Maxine
M
Bachman
Sara
S
Lischko
Amy
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D017047:Cost Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017049:Employer Health Costs / Q000639:trends; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires