PWC Report Forecasts 2011 Employer Health Benefit Trends

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute surveyed 700 U.S.-based companies, small through jumbo sized, to gauge their perspectives on health care costs and benefits program priorities for 2011. Interviews were conducted in the first quarter of 2010. Click here for a copy of the report.

Major findings include:

• Medical costs are projected to increase 9% in 2011.
• More employers will move away from co-payments & toward co-insurance at the point of care.
• Hospitals, getting less from Medicare, will cost-shift to employers/commercial to make it up.
• Providers will merge and consolidate, creating greater leverage in negotiations with health plans.
• Employers plan to add more worksite wellness & health promotion programs.