DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE STUDY: http://www.evolution1.com/healthcare-trends-institute/resources/2016-healthcare-benefits-trends-benchmark-study/ As the reforms and mandates under the ACA finalize, employers make changes to benefits offerings and strategies, and small employers look to implement their own plans, benefits professionals and health benefits stakeholders still have questions that need to be answered. To address the concerns, the Healthcare Trends Institute releases its Healthcare Benefits Trends Benchmark Study annually to compile insights and strategies for the present and future to remain in compliance with healthcare reform laws while driving down costs and providing competitive benefits offerings to employees. Surveying hundreds of benefits professionals HR executives, and employer-side stakeholders, we have made this study available for download here. So what do you need to know about healthcare benefits trends in 2016? We’ve boiled it down to six key trends, highlighted below: 1. Employers remain committed to offering health benefits and believe benefit offerings are important to attracting and retaining talented employees 2. Continued interest grows among employers to learn and understand more about Defined Contribution Plans 3. Employers are already exploring and adopting wellness and healthy lifestyle programs, while others are continuing to consider for the future 4. Although there is some concern for the impending 2018 Cadillac Tax (delayed to 2020 following the completion of the survey), the majority of employers are not making any changes as of yet 5. Employers are looking to insurance brokers and benefit consultants to learn more about new health benefit designs and distribution models 6. Helping employees better understand the value of provided benefits and making cost-conscious benefit decisions continues to remain important to employers. The entire survey, available for download here (http://www.evolution1.com/healthcare-trends-institute/resources/2016-healthcare-benefits-trends-benchmark-study/), answers a plethora of questions into what other employers are doing in the wake of reforms, and how you can benchmark your own plans to keep up with the market and make the most as the dust settles following the ACA.

1. B E N C H M A R K S T U D Y
2016
Healthcare
Benefits Trends
healthcaretrendsinstitute.org

2. 2
2016HEALTHCAREBENEFITSTRENDS
Background
The Healthcare Trends Institute, an educational platform focused on
the rapidly changing healthcare benefits industry, conducted its annual employer
healthcare benefits study from June through December 2015. The national
survey went to more than 250 human resources (HR) executives, benefit
specialists and other benefit decision-makers from organizations ranging in
employee size from less than 50 to over 2,500. Employer-sponsored benefit
trends continue to evolve in the era of healthcare reform and Affordable Care
Act (ACA) compliance requirements. Organizational goals remain reflected
in the types of benefits they offer their employees, as well as their promotion of
healthcare consumerism and wellness initiatives backed by incentives.
This survey includes findings and insights that formed the basis for
the 2016 Healthcare Benefits trends report on the following topics:
CURRENT HEALTHCARE BENEFIT OFFERINGS:
Identifies current employer health and wellness programs and
measures the impact of new healthcare reform initiatives on companies’
strategic areas of focus.
INTEREST IN AND USE OF HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS, HEALTH
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, WELLNESS PROGRAMS, DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
PLANS, AND PRIVATE EXCHANGES:
Explores employers’ views on implementing HDHPs and HSAs,
adopting wellness programs and new wellness incentives, moving to a
defined contribution plan and private exchange platform in an effort to
reduce costs, promote healthy lifestyles, and stay in compliance.
HEALTHCARE BENEFIT TRENDS – LOOKING FORWARD:
Recognizes new approaches and timelines employers are considering
in the selection and adoption of future health and wellness benefit offerings.

3. 3
2016HEALTHCAREBENEFITSTRENDS
Study Highlights
• Employers remain committed to offering health benefits and believe benefit
offerings are important to attracting and retaining talented employees
• Continued interest grows among employers to learn and understand more
about Defined Contribution Plans
• Employers are already exploring and adopting wellness and healthy lifestyle
programs, while others are continuing to consider for the future
• Although there is some concern for the impending 2018 Cadillac Tax (delayed
to 2020 following the completion of the survey), the majority of employers are
not making any changes as of yet
• Employers are looking to insurance brokers and benefit consultants to learn
more about new health benefit designs and distribution models
• Helping employees better understand the value of provided benefits and
making cost-conscious benefit decisions continues to remain important
to employers
FOR THE COMPLETE REPORT, CLICK HERE