Public employers modify benefits - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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The survey found 72 percent of public employerzs are increasing or considering an increase intheir employees’ deductibles, co-insurance or In addition, 74 percent of publixc employers are increasing or considering an increasse in employee premiums. When asked why they were considerinhigher deductibles, 46 percent of publiv employers cite the financial crisis. And 45 percent cite the economic downturj as the reason why they are thinkingv about higheremployee premiums. “These findings are surprising.
Althougnh cost-sharing measures have been common in the corporat e world for quitesome time, public employeres have traditionally not modified their health-card plans in this direction,” says Sally the foundation’s senior director of research. “Thw fact that the majority of publicx employers are nowincreasing deductibles, co-pays and premiums illustratesx the dual effect rising health-care costs and the financiall crisis are having on their plans.” Other cost-saving programd that public employers are instituting include adding a consumer-drivehn health plan, shifting to a self-fundee plan and introducing spousal surcharges.
Nearly three-fourths of public-plan sponsors are placing more emphasis oncontrolliny prescription-drug costs. The majority of public employersd are expanding participant education aboutg drug optionsand costs, increasinfg co-payments or co-insurance for drugs and mandatin g the use of generic drugs, the surveh found. The International Foundation of Employese Benefit Plans isa Wisconsin-based nonprofit providing information on employee benefits, compensation and financialk literacy.