Most employers offer a defined benefit plan, where they select one or two health insurance options to offer their employees. This approach is being replaced by defined contribution plans.
“Under a defined contribution plan, the employer is choosing a fixed dollar amount for employees and they use this money to purchase their benefits. Employees can select from multiple options, not just the traditional one or two plans, and personalize their selections based on their needs,” says Mary Spicher, sales executive with JRG Advisors, the management arm of ChamberChoice.
Smart Business spoke with Spicher about utilizing defined contribution plans.
Why the shift to define contribution plans?
The shift is directly related to health care reform and an effort to reduce insurance costs. This is not a new concept; for the past 20 years most employers have used a defined contribution plan for retiree benefits. Retirees are given a defined amount of income to apply toward defined contribution 401(k) plans, removing employer risk and allowing employees to make investment decisions based on their needs.
In the 1990s, rising costs led companies to evaluate retiree health plans and cap the amount they pay for benefits. As costs continued to rise, companies declined to raise the capped amount, creating a defined contribution health plan. This has now migrated to active employee health plans.
How do these plans work?
Employers can control costs and keep expenses more predictable from year-to-year. A defined contribution plan creates a consumer-driven health plan where employees use the employer’s defined contribution to purchase health insurance specific to their needs. The employer can keep the defined contribution the same for all or use a tiered structure where employees pay the difference for more expensive plans and benefits. Exchanges, including benefit options with low to high deductible plans combined with a health savings account, copayments and ancillary products, were developed so employees can purchase plans with defined contributions.
An employer can change the defined contribution by a set amount annually, regardless of the actual plan increase, or simply keep it the same based on its financial stability. The decision to alter benefits plans — i.e. increase the deductible, change the copayments on medical and prescription drugs, etc. — is the employee’s responsibility.
What’s the effect on ancillary products?
The one-stop shopping through exchanges simplifies administration and allows employees to purchase ancillary products as part of their health plan. The convenience predicts substantial growth in everything from short- and long-term coverage to pet insurance.
Insurance is viewed as protection of an employee’s income and assets against unpredictable events. If employees get sick, they use their health insurance. If they need time off work for an illness or accident, they have short-term or long-term disability insurance. Some expenses for a serious illness like cancer might not be covered by the employee’s health plan. And, if the employee were to die from the illness, life insurance protects the family financially.
What does health care reform mean for the future of defined contribution?
Employers are deciding whether to continue to offer a health plan, and if so, what type, based on the new legislation and cost. So, employees may become more familiar with a defined contribution health plan through the public insurance exchanges. Products sold through the state or federal exchanges will be limited to essential health benefits or a benchmark plan for health, dental and vision. Health plans in a private health insurance exchange offer more inclusive coverage.
Bottom line, defined contribution is the future. Employers have been waiting to see how reform affects rising costs before changing their traditional thinking. Early indications predict that health care reform won’t eliminate increases, so providers still need to deliver more efficient care, especially with high-cost cases. However, defined contribution, consumer-driven plans are helping employers control their costs.
Mary Spicher is a sales executive at JRG Advisors, the management arm of ChamberChoice. Reach her at (800) 377-3539 or [email protected].
Insights Employee Benefits is brought to you by ChamberChoice
