Even though the employer mandate has been suspended until 2015, business owners can expect to pay more for their employee benefits next year, according to a newly released report.
Employee healthcare benefits are anticipated to swell by 7 percent in 2014, the National Business Group on Health reports. The analysis was based on polling data from 108 of the country's largest corporations and was conducted in June 2013, just prior to the White House's decision to postpone the employer mandate for 12 months.
Helen Darling, president and CEO for NBGH, indicated that rising healthcare costs are a major issue for employers, especially given the fact companies that employ 50 or more workers are required to make coverage available.
"Employers spent considerable time and energy this year designing health plans that comply with the various provisions of the Affordable Care Act that would have become effective next year," said Darling. "And while the decision to delay provisions related to the employer mandate has provided respite from some of these requirements, the pressure remains on employers to lower costs."
She added that a substantial number of respondents said that they have taken the ACA into account in their budgets, as the requirements of the law will lead to higher operational costs.
The poll also found that some employers expect their workers to go on different plans, such as COBRA or insurance marketplaces set up by the states, because they may make more sense for them from a financial perspective.
With less than a month to go before the opening of exchanges, consumers are turning to trusted outlets for more information about the ACA. According to a recent poll performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most are looking to their doctor or nurse for advice and guidance.
