07 March 2014 (18:39 UTC-07 Tango 06 March 2014)/05 Jumada l-Ula 1435/16 Esfand 1392/07 Ding-Mao 4712

“The 19th Annual Towers Watson/NBGH Employer Survey on Purchasing Value in Health Care found that employer costs are expected to reach $9,560 per employee in 2014, an increase of 4.4%* from $9,157 in 2013………..employees’ share of premiums increased nearly 7%, to $2,975, this year. Out-of-pocket costs also increased. The total employee cost share has climbed from 34.4% in 2011 to 37% in 2014. Employees now pay over $100 more each month for health care compared with just three years ago.

Nearly half (49%) of employers have increased employee contributions for dependent tiers at higher rates than for individuals. Another 19% expect to make this move next year. About one-quarter (24%) of companies now use spousal surcharges of around $100 per month……..the trend toward increased cost sharing for spouses will likely continue.

The survey was completed by 595 employers between November 2013 and January 2014. Respondents collectively employ 11.3 million full-time employees, have 7.8 million employees enrolled in their health care programs…..”–Towers Watson

“One big reason: the so-called Cadillac Tax. In 2018, under the Affordable Care Act, high-priced employer-sponsored insurance plans will trigger a 40 percent excise tax on insurance benefits in excess of $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family plan.”–Bertha Coombs, CNBC’s Nightly Business Report