2018 Employer Health Benefits Survey

The largest share of covered workers is enrolled in PPOs, covering 49% of covered workers, followed by HDHP/SOs, HMOs, POS plans, and conventional plans.

• Forty-nine percent of covered workers are enrolled in PPOs, followed by HDHP/SOs (29%), HMOs (16%), POS plans (6%), and conventional plans (less than one percent) [Figure 5.1].
• The percentage of covered workers enrolled in HDHP/SOs is similar to last year, but has increased over the past decade.
• The percentage of covered workers enrolled in PPOs is similar to last year, but has decreased over the past decade.
• A larger share of covered workers are enrolled in HDHP/SOs than in HMOs in both small firms and large firms.
• The share of covered workers enrolled in POS plans decreased from 10% in 2017 to 6% this year [Figure 5.1].
• Covered workers in small firms are more likely than covered workers in large firms to enroll in POS plans (11% vs. 3%) [Figure 5.2].
• Plan enrollment patterns also differ across regions.
  • HMO enrollment is significantly higher in the West (33%), and significantly lower in the South (10%) and Midwest (5%) [Figure 5.3].
  • Covered workers in the South (55%) are more likely to be enrolled in PPOs than workers in other regions [Figure 5.3].
  • Covered workers in the Midwest (39%) are more likely to be enrolled in HDHP/SOs than workers in other regions, while covered workers in the West (19%) are less likely to be enrolled in HDHP/SOs [Figure 5.3].