A new survey has found that one in three Americans would turn down a dream job if it didn’t offer good health insurance options.
The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that three-quarters (73%) consider healthcare options an important factor when looking for a new job, and 63% would not be afraid to ask about their options during a job interview.
However, given the importance Americans place on health care, 42% believe their employers only provide them with the bare minimum in health insurance. In fact, 44% believe they would have better health options if the issue were brought to their employer’s attention.
Now that enrollment season for the benefits is upon us, the study was commissioned by Tres Health and conducted by Talker Research, found that many find their health care inadequate or unaffordable; In fact, 42% said they would change jobs if a potential new employer offered better healthcare options than what they currently have.
Forty-two percent who reported that they are currently employed believe that their current employer does not care about their health or the health of their colleagues. This was especially true for those who declared an income of less than $60,000.
The poll found that 63% of Americans wouldn’t be afraid to ask about their health insurance options during a job interview. Drobot Dean – stock.adobe.com
Of the sample, nearly 40% have blue-collar jobs and 72% of Americans report having a household income of less than $60,000.
Forty-four percent of them believe their employer doesn’t care about their health; This is in contrast to the only 36% of respondents who earn more than €60,000 annually.
Affordability turned out to be another important issue for respondents. When asked what maximum amount they could afford for unexpected health care or out-of-pocket medical expenses, nearly half (48%) said they could only afford less than $100.
This statistic was especially true for those who declared an income of less than $60,000. SWNS
And when asked how much extra they would be willing to spend per month for their health insurance, 37% said they couldn’t afford more than what they already pay, even if paying extra meant getting more coverage.
Respondents also said they believe their primary health care plan would include dental (67%), vision (64%), hospital stays (59%), better prescription drug coverage (57%), and mental and behavioral health care (55%). should include.
“Traditional health care plans today focus more on a particular workforce, often leaving employees behind, especially those who work for small employers or within the blue collar sector,” said Ari Rostowsky, Managing Partner of Tres Health. “But it’s important to know that other alternative forms of health insurance exist that provide employers with quality options for their employees at an affordable rate.”
The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that three-quarters consider health care an important factor when looking for a new job. SWNS
The study found that when selecting a health care plan, people tend to prioritize the amount of money they will pay.
They look for plans with low/no co-pays (50%), low prescription costs (46%), low deductibles (46%), and low premium costs (45%).
More than four in ten (41%) admitted they were in a position where they could not afford healthcare costs, and 30% admitted to currently having medical debt.
Of those in debt, the average person owes nearly $6,000 in medical bills.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), every employer must provide employees with minimum essential coverage and cover at least 60% of the cost of the plan.
Some employers offer Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) plans or Minimum Value Plans (MVPs) that cover basic services. But it is up to the employer how extensive these plans should be, and at what cost to the employee.
Of respondents surveyed, the following services are the most valuable: physician services (60%), free preventative care (44%), laboratory services (44%), emergency services (41%), hospital services (37%), and telehealth (28%) .
It is up to the employer how comprehensive they want their Minimum Essential Coverage plans to be, and at what cost to the employee. SWNS
“Every health plan should offer some form of basic and preventative care at a price that employees are comfortable with,” explains Mike Feeney, Managing Partner of Tres Health. “If employees don’t feel comfortable using their plan, or if they don’t understand it, the state of healthcare and its costs will only worsen for all of us as chronic conditions and comorbidities continue to increase. Your care plan should give you peace of mind, not take it away from you.”
Research methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans from the general population; The survey was commissioned by Tres Health and administered and administered online by Talker Research between October 10 and 14, 2024.