ISCEBS 18700 W. Bluemound Rd P.O. Box 209 Brookfield, WI 53008-0209 Phone: (262) 786-8771 Fax: (262) 786-8650 iscebs@iscebs.org

ISCEBS Survey Results

2010 Surveys

Health Care Reform - What Employers Are Considering: Survey Findings

In May 2010, the International Foundation conducted a survey of employers in order to determine how they are reacting to the changes brought about by the new health care reform legislation and the strategies being considered.

What actions are organizations likely to take and in what time period? Are they apt to implement
changes to eligibility before they are required by law to do so? The survey offers benchmarks of how
employers are responding to a host of health care reform challenges with particular emphasis on
immediate considerations and approaches for complying with the new law. It also looks at employer reactions to dependent eligibility, retiree coverage, high-deductible health plans and other health care reform provisions.

Press Release | Full Survey Findings (available in Members Only)

ISCEBS/Deloitte Top 5 Total Rewards Priorities Survey Results

Total Rewards priority survey results show employees take action to curb concerns over financial and job security – Deloitte/ISCEBS 16th Annual Top Five Survey

New research reveals employees, motivated by concerns related to money and job security, are taking action to get their financial houses in order while increasingly participating in wellness and disease management programs.  At the same time, faced with rising health care costs year after year, employers are stepping up emphasis on disease management and wellness programs designed to reduce costs.

This alignment of interests between employer and employee is the strongest in Deloitte’s survey series to date and points to a shared focus on health, responsibility, and cost reduction – that could benefit both in the long-term. 

Press Release | Full survey findings

2009 Surveys

Employers Anxious About Retiree Medical Promises: ISCEBS/Towers Perrin Survey Findings

A weak economy and uncertainty about the direction, timing, or impact of national health care reform have plan sponsors in a quandary as to how to address the rising cost and continuing administrative burden of their retiree medical plans. These findings are from a new survey from ISCEBS and Towers Perrin. The survey also revealed a sense of urgency about the need to make changes to costly retiree medical plans, an urgency compounded by the historical lack of marketplace solutions for pre-Medicare retirees, creating further anxiety among plan sponsors.

The joint nationwide survey conducted by Towers Perrin and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists, now in its fifth year, drew responses from 155 organizations on issues and objectives influencing retiree medical strategy and design.

Press Release | Full Survey Findings

HSAs Are Preferred By Employers Offering Consumer-Driven Health Plans: Aon/ISCEBS Survey Findings

Of employers who offer a consumer-driven health plan, Health Savings Accounts continue to be the preferred funding choice among organizations, according to a survey released today by Aon Consulting, and ISCEBS. Of the 370 survey respondents, 44% of employers currently offer a consumer-driven health (CDH) plan to employees, which is similar to last year but significantly higher than in 2006 when only 28% of employers offered this type of plan to their workforce. Over the last three years, the gap has widened between HSAs and HRAs, as the number of employers offering HSAs has increased, and the number offering HRAs has dropped. The survey also found that more employers who offer the HSA plan are contributing money to the plan (66% versus 60% last year). Similar to last year, employers currently offering a CDH plan are mainly doing so to control health plan costs or to introduce “consumer engagement” into the purchasing of health care for long-term change.

Press release | Full survey findings

Average Stop-Loss Premium — An Elusive Figure: ISCEBS/Aegis Risk Survey Findings

The current economy requires benefit managers to seek cost efficiency in all offerings. For those with self-funded medical plans, or exploring it, medical stop loss remains a significant expense. The financial risk of high claimants is also rising – with $1 million claimants no longer an exception. Costly stop loss premiums reflect this, but competitive data is often difficult to obtain. To assist plan sponsors, ISCEBS has for the third year partnered with Aegis Risk to produce this annual survey. Read the full summary here.

401(k) Benchmarking Survey Findings: Plans are bent, but not broken, with most employers taking a "wait and see" approach

In its 8th year, the survey is again sponsored by ISCEBS, the International Foundation and Deloitte Consulting and offers a detailed snapshot of the 401(k) policies, features, objectives and expectations of hundreds of diverse employers. A total of 606 companies responded to the survey. This comprehensive survey offers a detailed examination of 401(k) policies and practices, and how plan sponsors and participants intend to utilize these powerful retirement savings instruments.

Read More

Press Release | Full Survey Findings

Findings by Industry

• Consumer & Industrial Products / Services
• Energy & Resources
• Financial Services/  Insurance
• Health Care & Life Sciences
• Public Sector / Not for Profit
• Technology, Media & Telecommunications

COBRA Survey Results: More Are Eligible, But Fewer Elect Coverage

As more and more employees become eligible for COBRA continuing health coverage due to layoffs, a smaller and smaller percentage of them are actually signing up for it, due to its high cost. That is the finding of a survey this spring by ISCEBS and Spencer's Benefits Reports , a leading research service for employee benefits plan administrators at organizations across the U.S .

The responses for 2009 were notable in that they continued at least one trend started in 2002. More re­sponses than ever viewed the cost of COBRA as too high from the employee's perspective. This concern hardly registered among employers until 2002 but in the last two surveys ranked 1 and 2. Read the press release for additional details. Full survey results are available to Society members.

Health Care Plans: Impact of the Financial Crisis: As Employers Cut Health Care Costs, Employees Increase Utilization

A recent survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans shows the recession is forcing employers to increase cost-sharing approaches. Plan participants are using their benefits—while they still have them.

Survey responses indicate that while few plan sponsors are cutting or considering cutting health care benefits altogether, many are ramping up their cost-sharing approaches.

Plan sponsors aren't the only ones reacting to the recession. Survey respondents are reporting that plan participants, perhaps fearing an impending layoff, are increasing utilization of their benefits.

Even those who are hanging onto their jobs are struggling with health care costs. About one-fifth of survey respondents report plan participants are delaying medical care and skimping on prescription drugs because of financial problems.

The upside of today's climate is a heightened focus on wellness programs.  Eighteen percent of the respondents have introduced or are considering introducing wellness initiatives due to the economy.

Society members can download a free copy of this survey through the ISCEBS/International Foundation Bookstore.

Total Rewards priorities survey results point to delayed retirement, increased cost concerns and generational differences – Deloitte/ISCEBS 15th Annual Top Five Survey

For employers, the current financial crisis has thrust containing health care costs to the forefront, edging out attracting, developing and retaining employees. Talent, number one in 2008, slid to the number two spot, indicating that employers continue to struggle with balancing the need to control costs and proactively manage talent. The survey also indicates that organizations are putting greater emphasis on non-monetary rewards to address both cost and talent challenges.

Other findings show that almost half of the respondents now plan to delay their retirement, reflecting their number one personal concern of being able to afford retirement. Nearly half of respondents plan to increase contributions to their private savings and more than a third plan to initiate retirement planning outside of employer-provided resources.

New in 2009, the responses to questions specific to generational concerns indicate that despite the presence of four generations in the workforce, more than 30 percent report that generational preferences are not a factor in rewards strategy or changes.

Press release | Full survey findings | Previous Top 5 Survey findings

2008 Surveys

Steady CDH Growth is Expected for 2009: ICDC/ISCEBS Survey Findings

Employee benefits consultants are optimistic that consumer-directed health (CDH) will continue to see steady growth in 2009 and could even become part of health reform efforts, according to the fourth annual survey conducted by Inside Consumer-Directed Care and ISCEBS. However, employers' and employees' limited understanding about the plans remains a key barrier to the acceptance of the plans. Despite these concerns, many respondents were optimistic that enrollment will continue to grow as employers become more comfortable with the price setting and employees gain a better understanding of the potential cost-saving benefits. Read the full survey results here.

Employers Continue to Consider Bold Changes to Retiree Medical for 2009 and Later – Survey Findings

Providing medical benefits for pre-65 and post-65 retirees presents continuing complex and costly challenges for most employers, a new survey from ISCEBS and Towers Perrin shows. Now in its fourth year, the survey found that employers are struggling to balance conflicting objectives in responding to organizational cost pressures, rapidly rising retiree contributions, administrative challenges, and the transition of older workers into retirement. The responses of the 135 participating organizations reflect the challenges of managing current obligations and increasing costs, along with some of the changes they have made or are considering.

Press Release | Survey Findings

Consumer-Driven Health Plans Continue to Gain Momentum

The number of employers offering a consumer-driven health plan continues to grow, with 45% of survey respondents offering one, up from 37% last year, reflecting the need to curtail costs and increase consumer involvement in health care. Conducted by Aon Consulting and ISCEBS, the survey found that of those offering a CDH plan, their goals in doing so included introducing "consumerism" into health care purchases, controlling rising health care costs, providing a vehicle for retiree medical savings and encouraging better use of health care services.

Full survey findings | press release

Aegis Risk Medical Stop Loss Premium Survey Shows 2009 Premiums at an Increase

Stop loss coverage amongst plan sponsors varies greatly – causing development of an average premium cost a difficult, if not irrelevant, task. Difference in individual stop loss (ISL) deductibles, as well as variation in contract type and individual lifetime maximums can have a large effect on premium. Enrollment size also impacts cost, with larger populations able to spread their catastrophic risk across a larger pool.

Respondents represent 54 employers with approximately 194,000 employees with over $37 million in annual stop loss premium.

The survey addressed such topics as aggregate coverage, 2009 projections, and ongoing strategies. It offers a worksheet to calculate Adjusted Premium for companies to compare the specific company information to the survey findings. Read the executive summary and findings.

American Workers: Getting Ahead or Just Getting By?

Many U.S. employees are struggling to get ahead financially and they're looking to their employer for help, according to a recently released study conducted by Alliant Credit Union and ISCEBS. The study's key findings include:

• Benefits such as health and retirement plans are important, but are perceived as planning for future needs, whereas many employees have pressing current financial needs

• Those with financial concerns spend significant work time dealing with personal financial matters

• Half the respondents describe themselves as living from paycheck to paycheck, with less than 20% feeling financially secure

• Only 10% of employers currently offer some sort of program to educate employees on how to be a better manager of their own money.

• Such programs would be welcomed, with 85% wanting useful financial information at the workplace to help them become more savvy consumers.

Read the press release and executive summary here. Full survey findings are available here.

Next Generation Of 401(k)s Shows Automatic Enrollment And Step-Up Provisions Doubling Among Employers: Deloitte Survey

Employers are taking decisive actions to make 401(k) plan participation as easy as possible for employees, according to the 2008 401(k) Benchmarking survey, conducted by Deloitte, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and ISCEBS.

Of the 436 plan sponsors surveyed, 42 percent now have an automatic enrollment feature — nearly double the 23 percent total in the last survey. Another 26 percent say they are considering auto-enrollment.

Survey respondents addressed such topics as eligibility and enrollment, contributions, matching formulas, investment funds, revenue sharing, defined benefit plans, fees, vendors, plan effectiveness, communications and administration.

Survey results indicate that employers and providers are taking decisive steps to help employees get involved in investing and preparing for retirement with less effort. Examples include an autoenrollment default rate and step-up provisions that automatically increase deferral percentages on the participant's behalf. Compared to the previous survey, use of both approaches has increased.

Despite these factors and the increased popularity of time-based lifestyle funds and Roth 401(k)s, participation rates have not increased and many employers believe that their employees are not taking full advantage of their 401(k) plans to fund their retirement. Read the executive summary and full survey findings.

Survey History 2000-2008

2008
Annual Top Five Rewards Priorities Survey

2007
Annual Top Five Rewards Priorities Survey
Annual Stop Loss Survey
Annual ISCEBS/ICDC CDH Survey
Retiree Medical Programs
Annual Aon CDH Survey

2006
Annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey
Disability Plans
Annual ISCEBS/ICDC CDH Survey
Prescription Drug Strategies
Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey
Annual Aon CDH survey

2005
Annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey
Coping with Serious Illness in the Workplace: Working Women with Breast Cancer
Annual ISCEBS/ICDC CDH Survey
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey
Annual Aon CDH Survey
Wellness Survey

2004
Annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey
HSA Survey
Single Payer System
Defined Benefit Plans
Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey
Employee Benefit Trends

2003
Annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey

2002
Company Stock in 401(k) Plans
Health Care Costs

2001
New Kid on the Block: Financial Planning as an Employee Benefit

2000
Employer-Sponsored Prescription Drug Benefits - A Closer Look