According to a recent survey of 160 U.S. PR agencies, one out of four agencies require their staff to pay the full premium on their healthcare plans. The authors of the survey -- the folks at StevensGouldPartners -- summarize their findings as follows:
• 49% of the firms have Blue-Cross/Blue Shield
• Oxford wins big in New York
• Firms using PPO’s are more than double those using HMO’s
• 25% of the firms participating require employees to pay their full premium
• 36% of the firms participating require employees to pay the full amount for spouses & family members
Are these numbers good or bad compared to national business averages? Don't know, but this is something we're going to look at here at Hubbub as we investigate ways to help the growing population of independent communication consultants. Healthcare is a struggle for most businesses. Even more of a struggle today for independents....
I'm going through this issue right now as we begin staffing up. I hope to be able to offer fully employer paid coverage. That's my goal. A friend of mine who started his own agency (www.theushergroup.com) whom I went to for advice said, "It's the right thing to do," and I agree.
The sad truth is that most agencies take advantage of the fact that their employees are for the most part younger and health coverage is not a deciding factor.
Posted by: Josh Morgan | November 28, 2006 at 09:19 PM
Their exists many alternatives to bcbs and the likes with the tall sky scrapers and commercials. It is called consumer driven health care and as ligit as a sunrise.
Placing control back into the consumer's hands instead of some underwriter's business whom has no business delegating our costs between doctors and patients.
BTW, at 1980 rates without restrictions and independent of any employment.
Happy Holidays,
Steven
Posted by: Steven | November 28, 2006 at 10:10 PM