“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”
I was very interested in the info I received about the Open Enrollment Survey that was performed in August 2013 by Research Now for Aflac on Health Care coverage. I was intrigued by the numbers and while I want to say I am baffled by all of the confusion, I can’t, because I will admit that we don’t really know what is going to happen with our own health insurance. With a family of 7 we worry that rates may become so high that it will be hard for us to make doctor’s visits or even pay for our coverage. Below is some info from the survey. You might find it interesting yourself.
The survey found that most employees (69 percent) were still very confused, unaware and unprepared for the changes that were to come with their health care coverage. Employers had until October 1st to let employees know of these changes, however employees still seem very confused and unaware of the changes. Employers have shown concern themselves in the insurance covered that will be offered. They are afraid there will be gaps and costs to the employees.
They say some of the reason employers may have delayed in providing the information to their employees is because of their own lack of preparation for the health care reform. Only 9 percent of companies indicate they are very prepared to implement required changes to their business based on the health care reform law. As many as 41 percent believe we will see more gaps in coverage in the future and 69 percent believe that costs to employees will increase as a result of health care reform.
The survey found that 74 percent of workers sometimes or never understand everything that is covered by their insurance policy today. (That’s worrisome!) At this present moment (according to the survey), nearly 4-in-10 workers think it will be more difficult to understand everything in their health care policy with all of the changes from the health care reform.
One way that employers can help to better educate their employees on these changes is by having an insurance agent or broker visit their place of employment to better explain things in person. These informational sessions will not only provide important information to employees, but it will allow them to ask questions and receive answers by a specialist.
Many companies are facing the decision to limit or decrease employer-paid benefits. Alternative benefit solutions like voluntary policies can offer workers option to reduce potential health care expenses and it may just close the gaps in their coverage at no additional cost to the company.
Employers can go online looking for resources that can help the to educate their employees. One website to consider is aflac.com/healthcare_reform.
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”
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