Health Business Group: Employers maintain benefits despite cost challenges
According to a recent survey by Health Enterprise Health Group, most large employers plan to maintain their benefits in 2025, despite their increased medical expenses and global economic headwinds.
The Health Business Group is a nonprofit advocacy organization suitable for large employers. The survey included responses from 131 employers, hiring 11.2 million people worldwide. In January and February, another health survey business group was followed by, which predicts health care costs will grow nearly 8% in 2025, the highest growth in a decade.
The new survey found that 73% of employers plan to maintain their welfare plans in 2025, while 20% will expand their plans. The rest will reduce their well-being plans, or are uncertain.
While many employers are maintaining or expanding their own benefits, they are starting to gain greater value from their suppliers due to managing rising health care costs. About 94% said they are increasing expectations for welfare providers. For example, some employers have begun using welfare dashboards to help measure health data and evaluate suppliers.
“Employers continue to view wellbeing as the core of their workforce strategy and seek to further optimize their wellbeing investment,” said Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of the WHO Business Group, in a statement. “By viewing these initiatives as having a direct impact on overall employee health, employers also promote workplace participation, participants’ outcomes and business performance, and more.”
The survey also found that 100% of employer respondents included mental health in their welfare strategies, with 47% saying that mental health is the most important part of their welfare program. Another 99% said they use physical health as part of their well-being strategies, especially for weight management. About two-thirds of employers say the growing demand for GLP-1 has impacted their strategy.
Additionally, according to data from the health conglomerate, 92% of employers include financial health in their health plans. Examples of financial health support include helping student loans, compensation compensation, and emergency savings.
Other findings from the investigation include:
- About 85% of employers have a global consistency strategy or are engaging in well-being. However, since employers have to consider different cultures and laws, it is difficult to develop a consistent well-being strategy. Some of the most consistent global products include health support and nutrition support.
- About three-quarters of employers provide social connections and community programs such as employee resource groups, peer guidance or guidance.
- About 59% of employers plan to do more to address the social determinants of health in the coming years.
Photo: Noipho, Getty Images
