Mercer survey shows employer health costs rise 5 percent in Minnesota
The survey from the consulting firm Mercer found that the average health benefit cost per active employee in
Mercer surveyed 60 firms in
"While overall cost growth remains moderate, averaging 3.3 percent annually over the past five years compared to 5.7 percent over the prior 10-year period, it continues to outpace inflation," the
Earlier this month, the
In its report, Mercer said "more midsize and large employers are [forgoing] the short-term savings offered by cost-shifting and turning to strategies addressing care delivery and health management."
Smaller employers saw higher cost increases averaging 5.4 percent among those with 10 to 499 employees, Mercer said, compared with growth of 3.2 percent among midsize and large employers with 500 or more employees.
The survey found prescription drugs remain a big driver of costs among groups with 500 or more employees. Overall drug benefit costs in these health plans increased by 7 percent, Mercer said, while costs for specialty drugs increased by 12 percent.
In
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