Americans give employer-provided health coverage high marks

WASHINGTON – A new national survey finds American workers hold consistently positive views of employer-provided health care coverage, with nearly nine in 10 expressing satisfaction with their plans and strong majorities valuing the financial security and peace of mind their coverage provides.

"Employer-provided coverage is the backbone of our nation’s health care system, delivering high-quality, affordable health care and financial security to more than 180 million Americans. These findings confirm once again that Americans strongly value their employer-provided health coverage and want policymakers to support the longstanding partnership between employers and health plans," said AHIP president and CEO Mike Tuffin.

Key findings from the survey include:

• 89% of workers are satisfied with their employer-provided coverage.
• 96% say employer-provided coverage is important to their household's financial security.
• 68% rank health insurance as their top workplace benefit.
• 83% agree that employer-sponsored health insurance should remain tax-exempt to protect working families.
• 72% say a candidate's position on taxing employer-provided coverage would influence their vote.

The survey also highlights that employer-provided coverage provides effective access to care and needed services, with 81% reporting access to telehealth services and 79% reporting access to mental health services through their employer-provided plans.

Workers view employer-provided coverage as integral to their employment decisions, with 85% saying they would be likely to consider leaving their job if their employer no longer offered health insurance.

The survey of more than 5,000 employees enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance plans was conducted by Health Analytics & Insights Group and commissioned by AHIP.

For more information on the survey findings, click here. To learn more about the value of employer-provided coverage, visit Coverage@Work.