Against the backdrop of uncertainty created by health reform in the US, employers are accelerating efforts to bring health benefit cost under control, but few are likely terminate their plans as a result of reform, according to the National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. This nationally projectable survey, conducted annually by Mercer, includes public and private organizations with 10 or more employees; 2,844 employers responded in 2011.

“In a tough economy where high benefit cost increases often have to be balanced with lower pay increases, cost management was already important,” says Beth Umland, Mercer’s director of research for health and benefits. “But given new cost pressures from health reform, it’s becoming an imperative.”

“Employers have had a year to think about the impact of reform,” she adds. “When they consider the penalty, loss of tax savings and potentially grossing up employee income so they can purchase coverage through an insurance exchange, many don’t see a financial advantage in dropping coverage.”

Learn more about employer efforts to rein in health benefit costs.

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For more information about this survey, visit www.mercer.com/ushealthplansurvey.