Wellness Efforts Often not Meeting Employee Needs

November 21, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new survey from Aon Hewitt, The Futures Company and the National Business Group on Health, reveals consumers want their employers to do more to help them improve their health and get the most from their employer-provided health and wellness plans.

Under continued pressure to mitigate costs and adjust to new regulations, employers are continuing to carefully consider the future of their employer-provided health plans. However, as they adjust their plan design and wellness strategies, the survey finds many employers aren't aligning these strategies with the goals, needs and concerns of their employees.  

While a majority of consumers (74%) are worried about being able to afford health care now and in the future, they understand that health improvement programs, along with well designed employer-provided health benefit plans, can help them get healthier while also holding down costs. But, the survey reveals workers really want programs and communication that are easy to use, motivating and meaningful to them, but that also provide personalized information and ideas.  

Consumers are willing to try consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) if the immediate cost savings are apparent. Among those with a choice, most employees (63%) select a CDHP because of the lower premium costs. Additionally, 39% choose this plan option because their employer contributes to an associated account—Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). Among those enrolled in a CDHP who have a choice, over 90% will definitely or probably re-enroll.   

While CDHPs are, in part, intended to encourage workers to take a more active role in their health, the survey findings indicate that they are having a mixed affect on behaviors. Encouragingly, 42% are getting more preventive care, and 40% are looking for lower cost health services options since choosing this plan. However, a sizeable number of workers (35%) are sacrificing or postponing care (28%) to avoid out-of-pocket costs.  

When it comes to tools to help them make health decisions, consumers want information that is tailored to their specific situation. Half of participants (50%) want a personalized plan that recommends specific actions they can take to improve their health based on their health status, up 9 percentage points from 2010. Workers are also looking for convenient, one-stop access to information, with 40% expressing a preference for a wellness website, and more than a third (35%) wanting personalized health tips and reminders. Cost is still not far from the minds of consumers though; 44% would like cost savings tips, and a third (33%) want cost estimating tools.