CAI Releases 2012/2013 NC Healthcare Benefits And Cost Survey Results

RALEIGH, NC, May 10, 2013 (Press-News.org) Bruce Clarke, president and CEO of CAI (http://www.capital.org), a human resource management firm that helps organizations maximize employee engagement while minimizing employer liability, announced that the firm has released the results of the 2012/2013 NC Healthcare Benefits and Cost Survey. The NC Healthcare Benefits and Cost Survey is a statewide annual health plan benchmark survey for North Carolina-based companies. Providing employers with the information that is most critical in managing their employee benefits plan, the survey addresses the need for local benchmark data. Additionally, the data allows companies developing an employee benefits strategy to compare their plan design and premium costs to other locally based companies.

The data compiled is a reflection of 677 participating organizations statewide. Approximately 8 percent of companies are located in western North Carolina, 16 percent in the Charlotte area, 18 percent in the Piedmont Triad, 52 percent in the Triangle region, and 14 percent in eastern North Carolina.

Of the respondents, the majority of employers are small to mid-sized with less than 1,000 employees. These employers can be classified in 15 different business groups, the top five being professional, scientific and technical; finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing; durable manufacturing; healthcare and social assistance; and non-durable manufacturing.

Survey results indicate that traditional premium costs have risen over the past year by 2.5 percent for single coverage and 2.7 percent for family coverage. On average, over the past five years, total premiums for traditional plans have increased 5 percent annually. Specifically, from 2007-2008 to 2012-2013, single plan premiums increased by 27.1 percent and family plan premiums have increased by 28.2 percent.

Despite the rising costs, employee and employer contributions to traditional premiums have remained fairly consistent, and more employers have begun to offer the dual option of a traditional and consumer-directed health plan (CDHP).

Looking to the future, 60.4 percent of employers expect health care costs to increase over the next year due to healthcare reform, a 7.3 percent decrease from years past. However, an increasing percentage of employers are uncertain of the impact that healthcare reform will have on future healthcare costs.

QUOTES:
"Our member companies are always seeking guidance on the key decisions they must make to maximize benefits dollars for employees while complying with federal and state laws," said Clarke. "The NC Healthcare Benefits and Cost Survey aims to meet employer needs by providing companies with locally based information that is critical to the management and development of the overall employee benefit plans."

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DETAILS:
- For more information on the 2012/2013 NC Healthcare Benefits and Cost Survey, please visit http://bit.ly/er3Eiq.

- The survey was co-developed by CAI and Hill, Chesson & Woody (HCW), and co-sponsored by The Employers Association of Charlotte, N.C.

ABOUT CAI:
CAI is a trusted resource for HR, compliance and people development. With locations in Raleigh and Greensboro, CAI is a membership-driven organization that helps North Carolina employers maximize employee engagement and minimize employer liability through human resources and management advice, training, news, survey data, public policy advocacy and consulting services. For more information, please call (919) 878-9222 or visit http://www.capital.org.

Anjelica Cummings
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
anjelica@mmipublicrelations.com
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