As workers continue to pick up more of the costs associated with employer-sponsored health plans, they want more help from their employers to manage their health and get the most out of their health plans, according to a new survey from Aon Hewitt.
Together with the National Business Group on Health and The Futures Company, Aon Hewitt surveyed more than 3,000 consumers – including both employees and their dependents – covered by employer health plans to determine their perspectives, behaviors and attitudes towards health and wellness. The survey found that 74 percent of consumers are worried about being able to afford healthcare now and in the future, but they also understand that health improvement programs, along with well designed employer-provided health benefit plans, can help them get healthier while also holding down costs.
In order to take charge of their own health and wellness, employees want programs and communication that are easy to use, motivating and meaningful to them, but that also provide personalized information and ideas.
"Employers continue to face countless challenges when it comes to offering health plans that effectively meet the needs of workers and their families, while also managing rising costs," said Helen Darling, president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health in a press release announcing the survey results. "We hear over and over that the key to ensuring real health improvement is employee engagement, so knowing what employees want and what will motivate them is essential to success.
"Consumers are telling us that the one-size-fits-all approach to health and wellness isn't working for them," she continued. "In order to help with their challenges and reduce costs, they want health programs that speak to their individual and families' health care needs."
Employers are looking for ways to mitigate the rising costs of providing health benefits and looking to their employees to take on a greater role in both managing their health and their healthcare costs. Aon Hewitt found that more than half (51 percent) of all employers now offer consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs). Employers are encouraged that employees are willing to sign up for a CDHP if there are immediate cost savings. Among those with a choice of health plans, 63 percent chose a CDHP because of the lower premium costs and another 39 percent opted for this coverage because their employer made contributions to their Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
The survey found that consumers want information about making their own health decisions that is tooled to their specific needs. Half (50 percent) want a personalized plan that recommends specific actions they can take to improve their health based on their health status. "If companies truly want to move the needle in terms of overall health and cost, they have to stop looking at employees as one group, and start looking at the individual," said Joann Hall Swenson, principal and health engagement best practice leader at Aon Hewitt in a press release.
The survey also found that the best way to get employees motivated to participate in the employer-sponsored plans is to provide cash or non-cash incentives to entice participation in such things as wellness (60 percent), condition management programs (50 percent) or respond to a health risk questionnaire (58 percent).
Finally, it is up to employers to make sure their employees know of the availability of health improvement programs already in place. More than one-third (36 percent) of workers did not take part in any of the health programs or services offered by their employers. In addition, many consumers don't feel their employers are fully supportive in helping them get and stay healthy. A majority of workers (60 percent) think their company is only moderately-to-not supportive when it comes to their efforts to be healthy.
"Employers may be missing the mark when it comes to health improvement programs being offered to workers," said Cathy Tripp, managing principal, Health & Benefits at Aon Hewitt and project leader for this study, in the company's press release. "Workers need to see that their efforts to become healthy are supported by the company. Developing a culture where leaders care and support healthful living communicates to workers that this matters to the company."