Benefit packages in employer-based health plans have grown more generous over the past twenty years, most notably with regard to prescription drug coverage and preventive services. Most plans now offer workers preventive benefits including adult physicals, well baby care, and prescription drugs. The shift from conventional to managed care plans explains much of this increase. Managed health plans have historically emphasized preventive care such as physicals and mammography screenings and comprehensive care in the form of prescription drugs and ambulatory coverage.
The vast majority of empoyers say that the level of benefits they offer remained the same in 2003, with only 13% of firms reporting a decrease in the level of benefits (other than cost sharing) offered to workers.
- Most workers experienced no change in benefits in 2003. Depending on the type of firm size and industry, between 72% and 88% of covered workers experienced no change in the level of their benefits (other than cost sharing) in the past year (Exhibit 8.1). In general, the overall level of benefits did not vary by plan type.
- The substantial majority of health plans offer benefits that might be considered a “standard benefit”, including coverage for prescription drugs, prenatal care, and outpatient and inpatient mental health services. Annual adult physicals, annual visits to the obstetrician/ gynecologist and well-baby visits are also common benefits (Exhibits 8.2, 8.3).
- All types of plans are less likely to cover oral contraceptives than other types of prescription drugs (99%) although the percent of covered workers with coverage for oral contraceptives has grown substantially, at 88% this year, up from 71% in 2000. The number of covered workers with the option of sterilization and reversible contraceptives has also grown dramatically over the past few years. In 2001, 67% of covered workers had coverage for sterilization, compared to 87% this year. Reversible contraceptives were available to 41% of covered workers in 2001 and 72% of covered workers in 2003.
