Despite general unfamiliarity with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a majority of U.S. employees believe the new law will increase how much they pay for healthcare insurance over the next few years.
These are the findings of a new survey conducted by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association representing U.S. employers.
The survey shows that more than half of respondents believe their health insurance premiums will rise over the next year because of the ACA, and about the same number expect costs to climb over the next three to five years.
The report also reveals that 32% of employees believe the quality of their healthcare benefits will decline over the next three to five years. Only 15% think they won’t be able to afford coverage through their employer or union over the next three to five years.
Additionally, the survey indicates that only four in 10 respondents are familiar with the ACA itself, also known as Obamacare—although they do know about some of the law’s specific provisions. For example, 69% are at least somewhat familiar with the requirement that individuals must have or must buy insurance, and 63% know that large- and mid-size employers must offer insurance to full-time employees. However, only 38% are aware that public health insurance exchanges exist.
Yet another finding of the study is that although 66% of respondents have not heard of a private exchange, when given an explanation of how it works, more than half say they would be somewhat or very interested in buying health insurance through a private exchange if offered by their employer. And 66% would shop through a public exchange if offered as a less expensive option. However, more workers would stick with their employer plan if the costs were the same.
Conducted this summer, the survey polled 1,520 American employees who receive their healthcare benefits through their employer or union.
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