Hey HR leaders in Higher Ed, we’ve surveyed HR teams and employees to better understand today’s HR challenges and how a fresh approach to benefits can help organizations overcome new and existing obstacles.

Research

Benefits Trends Report: Higher Education

Caroline Boyland

## Healthcare Benefit Costs to Increase

If there's anything that the last few years have taught us, it's that having a competitive benefits package is critical to a company's success. Attracting and retaining top talent has become increasingly difficult, and one of the key ways to stay ahead of the curve is by offering a benefits package that meets or exceeds the needs of employees and their families, giving them peace of mind. However, with healthcare costs rising faster than the rate of inflation, it's becoming more and more difficult for companies to offer comprehensive benefits packages without breaking the bank.

A recent study by Willis Towers Watson looks at the projected costs of healthcare benefits for 2023 and how they will impact employers.

## The 2023 Global Medical Trends Survey

For the 2023 Global Medical Trends Survey, Willis Towers Watson interviewed 257 leading health insurers in 55 countries over the summer of 2022. The survey projects that global healthcare benefits costs will increase to the highest level we've seen in over ten years. 

On average, global healthcare benefit costs are projected to increase by 10% in 2023, according to the report. This is a significant increase from the 8.8% rise we see in 2022 and the 8.2% in 2021.

## What's driving these increases?

There are a number of factors that are contributing to the rising cost of healthcare benefits. Here are some of the key drivers:

- **Global inflation**: Between the current international conflicts and supply chain issues, inflation has rapidly risen. This has directly impacted the cost of healthcare benefits as providers pass along inflation increases to employers.
- **The pandemic**: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in both a higher utilization of healthcare services and an increase in the cost of treatments. Many countries are still dealing with this pandemic, and the costs associated with the long-term effects are still being felt and difficult to predict.
- **Overuse of services**: The number one driver behind the rising cost of healthcare benefits is thought to be the overuse of services, ranked first by 74% of insurers. This means medical professionals are ordering more tests and procedures than necessary and overprescribing medications. This, in turn, drives the cost of healthcare up without necessarily improving the quality of care.
- **An increase in chronic conditions**: Along with an aging population, we're also seeing a rise in the number of people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. These conditions require more frequent and more expensive treatments, which drives up the cost of healthcare benefits.
- **Increase in mental health services**: For a long time, it felt like mental health was not acceptable to discuss in the workplace — but it's becoming more and more common to talk about these issues and seek treatment for them. The pandemic has also taken a toll on mental health, with anxiety and depression rates skyrocketing. The increased demand for mental health services has driven up the cost of overall healthcare benefits.
- **Poor lifestyle habits**: Despite all of the available information about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, poor posture habits, and a sedentary lifestyle are still quite common. These poor health habits can result in more serious or chronic health problems down the road, which drives up the cost of healthcare benefits.
- **Lack of preventive care**: Many people still don't see the importance of preventative care, such as routine physicals, screenings, and dental cleanings. The lack of preventive care often leads to more severe problems, which are more expensive to treat. The years of the pandemic lockdowns have also led to a decrease in preventive care. Many people have been afraid to go to the doctor or dentist, and access has often been limited due to physical distancing restrictions. Healthcare providers are still playing catch up to provide the necessary preventive care that's been missed over the past few years, and many patients are now dealing with the consequences.

## Healthcare cost increases across the globe

Although all countries are projecting an increase in healthcare costs for 2023, there are significant variations by region. In North America, for example, healthcare benefit costs are projected to increase by only 6.5%, lower than the 9.4% increase in 2022. 

In contrast, most regions will still see an acceleration in the growth rates of their cost of benefits.

Experts project that average healthcare benefit costs will increase in the Middle East and Africa by 11.5% in 2023, versus 10.5% in 2022, in Asia Pacific by 10.2% versus 6.9% in 2022, and in Latin America by 18.9% from 18.2% in 2022. Even in Europe, where healthcare costs have traditionally seen lower increases, they predict a rise of 8.6% in 2023 versus 8% in 2022.

Experts have warned that healthcare costs will carry on increasing unless we make fundamental changes to the way care is delivered.

## How to keep healthcare costs down

If employers want to keep their healthcare costs down, they need to make some changes to the way they're approaching benefits. Some of the ways they can do this include:
- **Offering incentives that encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles**. These incentives can include discounted gym memberships, on-site wellness programs, health coaching, healthy food options in the workplace, and health risk assessments.
- **Encouraging employees to use preventive care services**. This can be done by offering free or discounted screenings and physicals. Education is also key, and employers can provide educational materials on the importance of preventive care and how it can save money and improve quality of life in the long run.
- **Ask employees what they want from their healthcare benefits**. By understanding what your employees value, you can design a benefits package that meets your employees' needs and helps keep costs down. Using decision support software like Nayya can also support employees to make better choices about their benefits and find the providers that offer the best value for their specific needs, optimizing healthcare costs without sacrificing the quality of care.

A competitive benefits package is still a crucial element in attracting and retaining top talent. With healthcare costs still projected to increase, employers need to be strategic about how they design and manage their benefits as a recruiting tool.

With the right approach, taking proactive steps to support employees in maintaining good health and a balanced lifestyle and using decision support technology to make benefits more cost-effective, it is possible to keep healthcare costs down while still providing a comprehensive benefits package that meets the needs of your employees or potential candidates.

According to research from Willis Towers Watson, healthcare benefit costs will increase in 2023.

Benefits

Global Healthcare Benefit Costs to Increase in 2023 

## Healthcare Costs Expected to Skyrocket Next Year
If it feels like you haven’t been able to catch a financial break lately—you’re not alone. It seems inflation has now taken over as the number one concern across many households.

We’ve seen prices skyrocket across countless industries: food, gas prices, real estate, transportation, and other everyday expenses. And now, because inflation really likes to pull the old “kick ya while you’re down,” healthcare costs are predicted to skyrocket next year—for employees and employers alike. 

Mercer's recently published **National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans** seeks to provide insight into what we can expect to see across healthcare costs in the coming year. Let’s take a look at some of the key findings, how the newly signed Inflation Reduction Act comes into play, new benefits and healthcare trends, and how employers and employees can drive cost savings.

## Growing healthcare costs

TL/DR? Healthcare costs are rising.

In 2023, employers expect an average increase of 5.6% in healthcare costs. This is a significant jump from this year's projection of a 4.4% increase. The main drivers of rising healthcare costs are growing labor costs and supply chain-driven price increases.

When it comes to the cost of prescription drugs, how they will evolve remains to be seen. The [Inflation Reduction Act](https://www.nayya.com/blog/inflation-reduction-act) promises to cut drug costs for people covered by federal medical health insurance by allowing direct negotiation between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies. What effect this will have on the prices of drugs covered by private insurance plans has yet to be seen. 

## Current healthcare trends

As well as facing rising costs, employers must adapt to changing trends in the healthcare industry and new employee concerns.

Here are some of the current areas of focus for employers:

- **Behavioral health**: as the world starts to get back to some levels of normalcy, employees are struggling with anxiety, stress, and depression at unprecedented levels. The flip-flop-flip of going back and forth between remote work, in person work, and hybrid work in such a short time has taken a toll on employee’s mental health, and employers are beginning to take action. Because of this, we’re starting to see employers focus on promoting mental health in the workplace and offering programs and benefits to support employees' well-being.In the coming years, we can expect to see a rise in the use of behavioral health services as a critical part of employee benefits.
- **Reproductive care**: in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, many states have been quick to pass laws restricting access to abortion. This has led to a rise in the number of women seeking out reproductive care services, such as abortions and contraception, outside of their home state. Employers have started to take note, and many have committed to ensuring that employees have access to these services regardless of state legislation.
- **Digital health**: the last few years have forced us to rely on technology more than ever, and that's not likely to change anytime soon. Employers are investing in digital health solutions to help employees manage their health and well-being and provide easier access to care. We can expect to see a rise in the use of telehealth services and preventative care and wellness programs.
- **Health equity**: nearly half of the employers that Mercer surveyed in companies with 500 or more employees stated that they're very concerned about health equity, and it's easy to see why. The pandemic has disproportionately affected marginalized communities, and employers are beginning to take note of existing healthcare and economic disparities. In the coming years, employers have stated that addressing health equity will be a priority for them.


## Healthcare's impact on employee retention

Despite the projection that healthcare costs will continue to escalate, employers are reluctant to reduce employee healthcare benefits. 

With all the labor shortages coming from what has been dubbed the Great Resignation, employers are more aware than ever that solid employee benefits are crucial in attracting and retaining talent. This is why they are reluctant to either decrease healthcare benefits coverage or pass part of the costs back onto employees through higher deductibles or copays.

Instead, employers are looking for ways to control costs without reducing benefits—to do more with less, if you will. This includes looking for ways to optimize their investment in employee benefits by enriching their offering to meet the specific needs of their workforce.

## Making the right healthcare choices

One of the best ways to control the costs of employee healthcare benefits is to make sure that employers offer the right mix of plans that genuinely meet their employees' needs, and that employers are **thoroughly educating and communicating the value of these plans to their employees.**

With the myriad of different plans and providers out there, and the complexity of the healthcare system, this can be a daunting task. But there are ways to simplify the process and **ensure that employees know their options and feel confident when selecting them.**

A benefits decision support tool like Nayya can cross-reference data with an employee’s physical, mental, and financial needs to provide personalized benefits recommendations to each unique employee. With a tool like this, employees receive comprehensive benefits education and support throughout the entire enrollment process.

## Cutting costs for employees and employers

One of the biggest benefits (no pun intended) of a benefits decision support tool is the ability to help drive cost savings for employees and also employers.

By choosing the right plans for their family, health, and financial background, employees can feel confident that they are not overpaying for benefits, and that their plans have their back when they need them most. Throughout the process, employees also receive education around pre-tax savings accounts like HSAs, FSAs, and 401K accounts, which gives them the confidence to increase pretax contributions which can help drive healthcare and retirement savings over time.

For employers, Nayya drives cost savings by:

- Making sure employees are on the right plans (whether that be PPOs, HDHPs, or otherwise)
- Driving increased contributions to aforementioned pre-tax savings accounts which can help employers save on Payroll taxes
- Giving time back to HR teams to so that they can do more with less

And so much more.

Benefits are the single most important financial decision employees make for themselves and their families each year—they have a direct impact on health and financial wellness for everyone. With healthcare costs expected to skyrocket next year, and record high inflation rates, a benefits decision support tool can alleviate the pain associated with increased costs for employees and employers alike. 


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A new study from Mercer predicts skyrocketing healthcare costs for employers and employees in 2023.

Healthcare Crisis

Healthcare Costs Expected to Skyrocket: What HR Needs to Know

This report compares findings from 100+ HR leaders and 600+ employees who were asked about benefits.

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