As many Americans prepare to enroll in insurance plans this fall through their workplace, they can expect more high-deductible health plans from their employers, according to a Kaiser Health News report.
Healthcare premiums are expected to rise roughly 4 percent in 2015, which is a fairly modest increase. Even so, a Mercer annual employer benefits survey found 68 percent of employers are taking precaution and changing their 2015 health plans to keep cost growth in check, up from 55 percent two years ago.
Nearly 75 percent of companies with more than 1,000 employees offer high-deductible health plans linked to health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements, and 9 percent have plans to add these high-deductible options, according to the report.
Meanwhile, employees of smaller companies can expect to see fewer changes in their coverage. Among businesses with fewer than 50 employees, 80 percent plan to renew their small group plans even when they were not compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.