People love their health benefits.
But do they understand them?
Millions of Americans have an employer-based health plan, yet a significant majority don’t understand them or the possible financial risks.
In a 2016 survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Collective Health, we found that now more than ever Americans strongly value health benefits in the workplace, but most still don’t understand all the options available to them.
The survey also revealed that millennials and parents, in particular, don’t fully grasp their benefits, exposing them to increased financial risk and confusion.
Healthcare benefits drive career choices.
Over 75% of U.S. adults say that when deciding on a new job, healthcare benefits would strongly factor into their decision of where to work.
It's even more important for parents.
A whopping 81% of parents with a child under 18 in the home say health benefits are a strong factor in their decision of where to work.
When it comes to the workplace, Americans want long-term coverage—
not short-term perks.
2⁄3 of Americans agree that competitive healthcare benefits are more important to them than other workplace "perks.”
The numbers go up if you're hitched.
Married versus unmarried: 70% of married Americans said healthcare benefits were more important than perks like gym memberships, standing desks or free food.
Who is the most concerned? Millennial women and male Baby Boomers
50% of Millennial women say their likelihood to accept a position within a company would be impacted if the costs and coverage aren’t reasonable.
55% Of male Baby Boomers share the same concern and say they’d be less likely to accept a position if the costs and coverage aren’t reasonable.
91 million Americans are still confused.[1]
Despite a significant majority of Americans putting an emphasis on workplace healthcare options, 3 out of 5 U.S. adults are often still confused by all the benefit options available to them.
Millennials are the most likely to be confused.
Nearly 3 in 4 18 to 34 year-olds said they are often confused about all benefit options available to them.
Children add to the complexity.
70% of parents with a child under 18 in the home said they were confused.
And, they’re not
financially prepared.
are not prepared to handle out of pocket medical bills of $5,000.
Americans don't want surprises.
2 out of 3 adults would prefer a plan that takes more out of their monthly paycheck and covers more of their medical bills.
Why it matters
- 70% of emergency physicians reported that they are seeing insured patients in the ER who have delayed seeking emergency care due to high co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles.[2]
- Even though Americans are confused, they’re not spending much if any time on researching benefits. 79% spent less than an hour, and more than half spent fewer than 30 minutes researching benefits options during open enrollment.[3]
- While millennials may be confused, they’re not interested in researching their health benefits. 45% of millennials would rather clean out their email than research their health benefits. 22% would rather do their taxes.[4]
- Companies are planning to reduce the richness of their benefit offerings—85% of employers have implemented or are considering greater employee cost-sharing, putting more of the financial burden on employees' shoulders.[5]
- Two groups that are most likely to reach these high out-of-pocket medical costs—millennial women ages 18 to 34 (due to childbearing years) and parents—are the most unprepared to pay for them.[6]
