We’re excited to announce that this month marks Benz Communications’ ninth birthday! Since we humbly began nine years ago—with the passionate belief that benefits communication can and should be a meaningful part of helping companies achieve their goals—the industry has experienced more than a few significant shifts. As we reflect on the last nine years, here’s our list of nine benefits changes that make us most excited and optimistic about our work in the years to come.
1. Benefits appreciation is higher than ever! Seventy percent of employees value their health benefits, 73% would refuse to work for a company with no medical plan, and just 5% think they could find a better deal on the open market than through their employer.
2. Companies see the value of benefits communication, especially putting information online. Nearly three-quarters of employers (73%) say communication played a major part in helping them meet their goals—hooray! Also, 90% put benefits online, which removes key info barriers for family members. Such a bursting online benefits presence is exciting progress.
3. Americans are taking financial planning more seriously—and so are employers. Bank of America finds that 70% of employers want to help employees achieve greater financial security, Metlife reports 49% of employees want that exact help, and 81% of workers trust financial information from their employer according to TIAA-CREF. A perfect match at the perfect time, with resources available to help.
4. Marriage is just marriage. We couldn’t be happier about last month’s Supreme Court ruling that legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide. We look forward to working with benefits professionals to seamlessly administer and communicate the ruling’s implications for companies and their people.
5. ACA has saved women $1 billion. Claims analysis indicates that the contraception mandate under the Affordable Care Act has expanded access and lowered costs for American women, with savings of more than $1 billion!
6. Wellness programs are expanding—and there’s a solid business case to support them. Once just risk assessments and biometric screenings, wellness programs are becoming so much more, responding to diverse employee needs, goals and concerns—including nutrition, sleep, stress and more.
7. Improving health literacy is on the national radar. There is now a national action plan to help Americans be more health care savvy. Looking for an easy first step? Download and share our health literacy guide.
8. Technology is surging, making benefits education and delivery more efficient. Pew data show that most (56%) of Americans now own a smartphone, 35% own a tablet and 26% own both. More than three-quarters of Americans use the Internet daily, and smartphones are closing accessibility gaps faster than any other technology. With that expanded access, the majority of employees say they want more benefits functions available via mobile. Employers are increasingly responding, with 44% optimizing their sites for mobile viewing. We’re looking forward to a day in the near future when all workers are able to access their benefits anytime, anywhere.
9. Cost transparency is making significant progress. Tools like HealthSparq, Guroo, and Castlight are helping to lift the veil on what health care costs and raise patients’ confidence. Plus, campaigns like Choosing Wisely are creating more educated patients about key cost questions to ask physicians. In health policy, organizations like Catalyst for Payment Reform are using data to bring increased transparency and effectiveness to how we pay providers.
