Employers Express Doubts About Employer Mandate and Government-Sponsored Public Plan, Says Aon Consulting Survey
20 Luglio 2009 - 6:24PM
PR Newswire (US)
Organizations favor current employer-based system with focus on
wellness, consumer engagement CHICAGO, July 20
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Competition between employer-based health
insurance plans and a government-sponsored public plan will not fix
the U.S. health care system, according to the majority of employers
responding to a Health Care Reform Survey, conducted by Aon
Consulting, the global human capital consulting organization of Aon
Corporation (NYSE:AOC). What will help fix the system is a focus on
wellness programs, evidence-based medicine guidelines, improving
quality of care and increasing the ability of patients to be better
health care consumers, the survey found. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO) Aon
Consulting surveyed more than 1,100 U.S.-based employers in June
2009 and found that 58 percent of employers oppose a public plan
option similar to Medicare to compete with employer-based plans as
a way to increase the number of Americans with health insurance. In
addition, 56 percent of employers oppose a public plan that would
eventually be offered to larger employers through a Health
Insurance Exchange. In regard to the scenario of a government-run
public plan having lower provider reimbursement levels and richer
benefits than competing group plans, 39 percent of employers said
they would continue group health coverage but re-evaluate
sponsorship after one to two years. In the same scenario, another
10 percent of employers said they would drop sponsorship of group
coverage. "The survey results reflect an opposition to a competing
public plan where employers are concerned about an uneven playing
field between employer-based plans and a public plan, especially if
the public plan is designed based on a Medicare level reimbursement
to physicians and hospitals, which is significantly lower than
private-sector plans," said John Zern, Aon Consulting's U.S. Health
& Benefits Practice director. "As a result, the public plan, if
passed and depending on the details, could over time diminish
enrollment in group health insurance programs administered by
private health carriers." In addition, the survey found the
majority of employers are against the following health care
proposals: -- 63 percent of organizations oppose an employer
mandate, which would require employers to sponsor group health
insurance for their employees or pay into a government fund -- 76
percent of employers said changes in ERISA preemption -- which
would limit or prevent multi-state employers from self funding a
consistent nationwide health plan -- would be a significant
development that could lead to a re-examination or likely
termination of health coverage options -- The majority of employers
ranked changing/limiting the tax treatment of group health coverage
sponsored by employers as the least preferred way to finance health
care reform. "These survey results send a message that employers
want the flexibility in their employer-sponsored health benefits to
do what's best to recruit and retain talent, and these proposed
health care changes may not accomplish this goal," said Tom Lerche,
Aon Consulting's Health Care Practice leader. An employer mandate
could result in employers needing to modify benefits to meet a
government required minimum benefit level. For those organizations
that don't provide group coverage, they may be forced to cut staff
to replace the extra costs of complying with the employer mandate,
Lerche explained. "Changes in ERISA preemption would cause
substantial problems for the administration of group medical plans
for multi-state employers, as it would make health coverage even
more costly," Lerche added. Focus on wellness, consumerism and
evidence-based guidelines Solutions to help fix the U.S. health
care system rest in current employer-sponsored coverage, according
to survey respondents. In fact, 93 percent of organizations said
the most favorable way to increase the number of Americans with
health insurance is by continuing the employer-based health care
system with a greater focus on wellness, chronic condition
management, evidence-based medicine and other innovative
approaches. Employers also believe the most effective ways to lower
medical trend is through comprehensive prevention/wellness programs
(73 percent of respondents); making consumers more price sensitive
and more aware of quality of care data (55 percent); and limits on
malpractice suits for physicians who follow evidence-based medicine
guidelines (47 percent). Evidence-based medicine guidelines and
tools to encourage consumerism also were cited as the top two
initiatives to improve the quality of care based on their highest
potential impact. "Clearly organizations want to improve the
current employer-sponsored health care system by building a
healthier workforce and a more informed employee to make better
health care decisions, and by doing so, reduce claims costs,"
Lerche said. "While these are all reasonable goals, the challenge
resides in implementing the right programs and measuring outcomes,
as changing individual behavior is a daunting task." Zern added:
"Regardless of the outcome of national health reform, employers
should place a high priority on development of a comprehensive
business plan for wellness and prevention. The benefits of a
successful wellness program go beyond disease prevention to include
reduced absenteeism and 'presenteeism,' lower rates and duration of
disabilities, and a more engaged and productive workforce. Most
importantly, a comprehensive wellness program should include a
process to track and measure outcomes in their workforce to
re-evaluate and make changes where necessary." Zern and Lerche
brought clients to Washington, D.C., the week of July 13 to discuss
health care reform with members of Congress. For more information
on Aon Consulting's Health Care Reform Survey results, please visit
http://www.aon.com/healthcarereform. About Aon Consulting Aon
Consulting Worldwide is among the top global human capital
consulting firms, with 2008 revenues of $1.358 billion and more
than 6,300 professionals in 229 offices worldwide. Aon Consulting
works with organizations to improve business performance and shape
the workplace of the future through employee benefits, talent
management and rewards strategies and solutions. Aon Consulting was
named the best employee benefit consulting firm by the readers of
Business Insurance magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008. For more
information on Aon, please visit http://www.aon.mediaroom.com/. Aon
Consulting's Health & Benefits Practice is a global leader,
with one of the largest wholly owned networks of worldwide offices
of any consulting firm. About Aon Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the
leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and
reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. Through its
more than 37,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon readily delivers
distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk
management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon's
industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are
delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120
countries. Named the world's best broker by Euromoney magazine's
2008 and 2009 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business
Insurance's listing of the world's largest insurance brokers based
on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines
brokerage revenues in 2008. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one
insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007 and 2008, and
Aon was voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance
intermediary and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 and
2008 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on
Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/. Media contact: Sara Carlson
312-381-5045
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aon Corporation CONTACT:
Sara Carlson of Aon Corporation, +1-312-381-5045, Web Site:
http://www.aon.com/
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