Employers are not getting a good return on investment in their health benefit programs, according to a recent Watson Wyatt survey of 10,000 employees at 18 companies. Consider these findings:
• Only 43 percent of workers surveyed are satisfied with the overall performance of their health plans.
• Less than one-half (48 percent) trust their employer to design a health plan that will provide the coverage they need.
• Better plans are available for the same cost, according to 47 percent.
While increasing costs and poor health plan performance are some of the reasons for employee dissatisfaction, misinformation and inaccurate perceptions also can undermine satisfaction, according to Steve Richter, the co-author of the firm's 2001 Best Practices in Health Care Vendor Management study.
The solution? Employers should help employees better understand their plans and the value of their benefits, says Richter.
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