Our annual health benefits survey, with more than 1,800 respondents in 2020, is one of the largest of its kind. It provides trends in cost and plan design and looks at employers’ strategies for managing cost and supporting employees -- and how they have responded to the pandemic.
With the pandemic disrupting health care utilization and adding stress to employees’ lives, employers are focusing on supporting behavioral health; developing future-focused strategies for virtual health care; and seeking new ways to engage employees whether they are at worksites or remote.
Heading into 2021, employers are avoiding cost management tactics that disrupt or shift costs to employees. Instead, many are adding resources to help address new sources of stress and keep employees engaged and productive during these tough times.
Telemedicine utilization jumped in 2020 and employers are planning for a larger role. To ensure that virtual care lives up to its potential, employers have will need to incentivize employees to use the right modality for the service they need.
Employers are increasingly focused on employee experience and creating a healthy workplace culture, but are challenged to engage both employees at worksites and those working remotely.
In Mercer’s just-released National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, large employers reported the lowest annual health cost increase in over two decades. They also demonstrated concern about workforce behavioral health as the pandemic continues to disrupt lives and business. Download this infographic for highlights.
Consult with a Mercer expert on the National Survey findings and strategies for action.
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