1. Employer Health Benefits
Matthew Rae, Kaiser Family Foundation
Michigan Business Professional Association Conference
September 24, 2015

2. Methodology Highlights
17th Annual Employer Health Benefit Survey
Sampling Frame:
Non-federal governments and private firms with more than 3 employees (~3 million organizations)
Unit of Analysis:
Firms (not establishments)
Sampling Method:
Random probability sample corrected to firm size and industry counts
Response
~5,000 Firms are Sampled, 2000 complete the full survey.
Collection
Telephone Interviews – ranging from 10 minutes to 1hr
Calendar
Spring Fielding, September Release
Goals of this Presentation
How Information is Collected

3. Employee Cost-Sharing Plan Funding Retiree Benefits Wellness
Survey Structure
Collects information on a firm’s largest HMO, PPO, POS and High Deductible Plan with either an HRA or HSA-qualified
Questions on
Premium Cost
Employee Cost-Sharing
Plan Funding
Retiree Benefits
Wellness
Respondents: HR managers/benefit consultants
What type of information we can collect
Strengths of approach

4. Average Annual Worker and Employer Contributions to Premiums and Total Premiums for Family Coverage,
$5,791
$6,438*
$7,061*
$8,003*
$9,068*
$9,950*
$10,880*
$11,480*
$12,106*
$12,680*
$13,375*
$13,770*
$15,073*
$15,745*
$16,351*
$16,834*
$17,545*
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

5. Average Annual Premium Increases for Family Coverage, 1999-2015
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

6. Cumulative Increases in Health Insurance Premiums, Workers’ Contributions to Premiums, Inflation, and Workers’ Earnings,
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average of Annual Inflation (April to April), ; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted Data from the Current Employment Statistics Survey, (April to April).

7. U.S. health care spending per capita has risen at historically low rates recently, but is expected to pick up
Average annual growth rate of health spending per capita for 1970’s – 1990’s; Annual change in actual health spending per capita 2000 – 2013 and projected health spending per capita (2014 – 2024)
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of National Health Expenditure (NHE) data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group.

8. Average Annual Worker and Employer Contributions to Premiums and Total Premiums for Single and Family Coverage, by Firm Size, 2015
Single Coverage
Family Coverage
$6,163
$6,289
$6,251
* Estimate is statistically different between All Large Firms and All Small Firms estimate (p<.05).
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

9. Average Annual Worker and Employer Contributions to Premiums and Total Premiums for Single and Family Coverage, by Firm Wage Level, 2015
Single Coverage
Family Coverage
$6,307*
$6,251
$5,606*
There
* Estimate is statistically different between All Large Firms and All Small Firms estimate (p<.05).
NOTE: Lower-wage level is $23,000 annually or less, the 25th percentile for workers earnings nationally.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

10. Among Firms Offering Family Coverage, Percentage of Employers Using Various Approaches to Family Premium Contributions, by Firm Size, 2015
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

11. Percentage of Covered Workers With a General Annual Deductible for Single Coverage, 2006-2015
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

12. Average General Annual Deductible for Covered Workers Enrolled in Single Coverage, 2006-2015
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
NOTES: Average general annual deductible is among all covered workers. Workers in plans without a general annual deductible for in-network services are assigned a value of zero.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

13. Percentage of Covered Workers Enrolled in a Plan with a General Annual Deductible of $1,000 or More for Single Coverage, By Firm Size,
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
NOTE: These estimates include workers enrolled in HDHP/SOs and other plan types. Average general annual health plan deductibles for PPOs, POS plans, and HDHP/SOs are for in-network services.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

14. Cumulative Increases in Health Insurance Premiums, General Annual Deductibles, Inflation, and Workers’ Earnings,
NOTE: Average general annual deductible is among all covered workers. Workers in plans without a general annual deductible for in-network services are assigned a value of zero.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average of Annual Inflation (April to April), ; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted Data from the Current Employment Statistics Survey, (April to April).

15. Distribution of Health Plan Enrollment for Covered Workers, by Plan Type, 1988-2015
NOTE: Information was not obtained for POS plans in A portion of the change in plan type enrollment for 2005 is likely attributable to incorporating more recent Census Bureau estimates of the number of state and local government workers and removing federal workers from the weights. See the Survey Design and Methods section from the 2005 Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits for additional information.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, ; KPMG Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1993, 1996; The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), 1988.

16. Percentage of Firms Offering Health Benefits, 1999–2015
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
NOTE: As noted in the Survey Design and Methods section, estimates presented in this exhibit are based on the sample of
both firms that completed the entire survey and those that answered just one question about whether they offer health
benefits.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

17. Percentage of Firms Offering Health Benefits, by Firm Size, 1999-2015
*Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
NOTE: Estimates presented in this exhibit are based on the sample of both firms that completed the entire survey and those that answered just one question. For more information, see the Survey Methods Section.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

18. Percent of The Non-Elderly Population Enrolled in Employer-Sponsored Coverage by Household Poverty Level, 1998–2012
2) Offer Rates by Wage Level
Decrease for Lower Income Worker
Stable For Higher Wage Workers
NOTE: FPL stands for the Federal Poverty Level, defined by the US Census Bureau annually
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation’s analysis of the National Health Interview Survey,

19. Eligibility, Take-Up Rate, and Coverage for Workers in Firms Offering Health Benefits, 1999-2015
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

20. Difference in the Tax Burden Face by a Household Whose Compensation includes Health Insurance and One Who Doesn’t By Income.
$4,658
4) One Reason – Employers Keep Offering
Source - TAXSIM
Note: Compares the tax burden of households who receive $10,000 of their compensation in the form of an employer contribution to health insurance and pay $2,500 through a section 125 plan to households which receive all of their compensation as wages. Assumes the family has wages split between two working spouses and two dependents. Based on 2012 state and federal income tax rates, and the 2013 FICA rates (6.2% employee and employer contributions)
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation’s Analysis of the National Bureau of Economic Research’s “Internet TAXSIM, Version 9”.

21. Among Firms with More Than 50 Employees and Who Offer Health Benefits, The Percentage of Firms Considering Offering Benefits Through a Private Exchange, 2015
ǂ These questions were not asked of firms that already offer health benefits through a private exchange.
NOTE: A private exchange is one created by a consulting company, not by a state or federal government. Private exchanges allow employees to choose from several health benefit options offered on the exchange. A defined premium contribution is a set dollar amount offered to the employee. Employees may then select one of several plans and the employee pays the difference between the defined contribution and the cost of the health insurance option they choose.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

22. Percentage of Covered Workers in Partially or Completely Self-Funded Plans, by Firm Size, 1999-2015
* Estimate is statistically different from estimate for the previous year shown (p<.05).
NOTE: Sixty-three percent of covered workers are in a partially or completely self-funded plan in Due to a change in the survey questionnaire, funding status was not asked of firms with conventional plans in Therefore, conventional plan funding status is not included in the averages in this exhibit for For definitions of Self-Funded and Fully Insured plans, see the introduction to Section 10.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits,

23. Health Risk Assessments
Among Large Firms (200 or More Workers) Offering Health Benefits, Percentage of Firms Offering Incentives for Various Wellness and Health Promotion Activities, 2015
Health Risk Assessments
Biometric Screening
Wellness Programs
ǂ Firms which offer either “Programs to Help Employees Stop Smoking”, “Programs to Help Employees Lose Weight”, or “Other Lifestyle or Behavioral Coaching“.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

24. Among Firms Offering Health Benefits, Percentage of Firms Offering Specific Wellness Program to Their Employees, by Firm Size, 2015
* Estimate is statistically different between All Small Firms and All Large Firms (p<.05).
NOTE: “Other Lifestyle or Behavioral Coaching” can include health education classes, stress management, or substance abuse counseling.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

25. Among Large Firms Offering Incentives for Workers Who Participate In or Complete Wellness Programs, Maximum Annual Value of the Reward for Wellness and Health Promotion Programs, Including Incentives for Health Risk Assessment and Biometric Screening, 2015
NOTE: Firms with at least one of the listed wellness programs were asked to report the maximum reward or penalty an employee could earn for all of the firm's health promotion activities combined. For some employers, the maximum incentive may include rewards or penalties for activities related to health risk assessments and biometric screening. Listed programs include: “Programs to Help Employees Stop Smoking”, “Programs to Help Employees Lose Weight”, or “Other Lifestyle or Behavioral Coaching”.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

26. Among Large Firms (200 or More Workers) Offering Health Benefits to Active Workers and Retirees, Percentage of Employers Considering Changes to the Way They Offer Coverage to Retirees, 2015.
ǂ Six percent of firms indicated “Don’t know”.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

27. Among Firms Offering Health Benefits, Percentage of Firms Who Have Incorporated Various Features into Their Provider Networks, by Firm Size, 2015
Note: A high performance network is one that groups providers within the network based on quality, cost, and/or efficiency of care they deliver.
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

28. Among Firms Whose Plan with the Largest Enrollment Covers Specialty Drugs, Percentage of Firms Which Use the Following Strategies to Contain Specialty Drug Cost, by Firm Size, 2015
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

29. Among Firms Offering Health Benefits with 50 or More Full-Time-Equivalentsǂ, Percentage of Firms That Took Various Actions, by Firm Size, 2015
ǂ Firms were asked if they took the relevant action in response to the Employer-Shared Responsibility Provisions. Firms with 50 or more full- time equivalents were asked these questions. A significant number of employers, mostly large employers did not know how many FTEs they employed. In these cases, firms with 50 or more workers were asked these questions.
Source: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

30. Among Firms Offering Health Benefits with 100 or More Full-Time-Equivalentsǂ, Percentage of Firms That Took Various Actions, 2015
ǂ Response are among firms with 100 or more full-time equivalents. A significant number of employers, mostly large employers did not know how many FTEs they employed. In these cases, the responses for firms with 100 or more workers are included. Three percent of firms did not know if they offer a health plan that meets minimum standards for value and affordability, two percent of firms did not.
Source: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

31. High-Cost Plan Tax 40% excise tax begins in 2018
Thresholds $10,200 for single, $27,500 for family
Adjustments for age, gender, high-risk professions, retirees, Taft-Hartley
Increase with inflation
Total health benefit costs by worker
Premium (employer and employee share)
Employer Contribution to HSAs and HRAs
Payroll deductions for FSAs and HSAs
Other Pre-Tax health benefits (on-site clinics)
Assessed against services provider, some chance for simplification

32. Percent of Employers Offering Health Benefits with Plans that Would Exceed HCPT Threshold With 5% Premium Growth
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis

33. Share of Employers with At Least One Plan Hitting Threshold
Year
HCPT Self-Only Threshold
Premium, HSA, HRA
Premium, HSA, HRA & FSA
2018
$10,200
16%
26%
2023
$11,800
22%
30%
2028
$13,500
36%
42%
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis

34. Share of Employers with At Least
One Plan Hitting Threshold By Firm Size
Year
HCPT Self-Only Threshold
Premium, HSA, HRA & FSA
Small Firms
(3-199 workers)
Large Firms (200 or more workers)
2018
$10,200
25%
46%
2023
$11,800
29%
56%
2028
$13,500
41%
68%
SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis

35. Among Firms Offering Health Benefits, Percentage of Firms That Have Taken Various Actions in Anticipation of the Excise Tax on High-Cost Plans, by Firm Size, 2015
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.

36. Among Large Firms (200 or More Workers) Offering Health Benefits Who Indicated That Have They Changed Their Plan or Switched Carriers In Anticipation of the Excise Tax on High-Cost Health Plans, Percentage of Firms Which Have Taken Various Actions, 2015
‡ Among firms who offer either an HSA-qualified plan or a high deductible plan paired with a health reimbursement arrangement.
Note: Sixteen percent of large firms offering health benefits report that they have changed their benefit plans or moved to lower cost plans in anticipation of the assessment
SOURCE: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2015.