Human Resources: Nebraska Health Care Costs Increase in 2008

Kansas City, Kan. – Health insurance costs are rising across the country, and the health care industry is no exception. The 2008 Healthcare eSurvey – Nebraska results found the average premium increase was 7.8 percent for all plans. In contrast, the average premium increase found nationally for all industries was 11.1 percent.

When comparing plans in 2008, 73.3 percent of Nebraska health care organizations offering PPO plans saw an average increase of 7.8 percent, while HDHP had an average premium increase of 8.5 percent.

To contain rising costs, Nebraska health care organizations utilized a variety of methods. One of the most highly used was wellness programs at 62.3 percent in 2008. With these programs, 90.1 percent offer flu shots and immunizations, and 54.3 percent provide tobacco cessation. Over a third of the health care organizations surveyed offer weight management programs.

In addition to wellness programs, 85.7 percent coordinate benefits to contain costs, and 59.7 utilize a network of health care professionals. Pre-admission testing is used by 11.7 percent of Nebraska health care organizations.

The results showed 42.1 percent of Nebraska health care providers increased the employee portion of the premium in their efforts to reduce costs. Currently, 47.4 and 12.3 percent of organizations increased deductible levels and employee co-insurance levels respectively. On average, U.S. employers contribute 10.3 percent of payroll toward the cost of health benefits, which is nearly the same cost to provide all of the following benefits: dental, pension, life, disability and other non-mandated benefits.

About the Survey

Compdata Surveys and the Nebraska Hospital Association team to deliver a health care survey to organizations across the state. The 2008 Nebraska Healthcare eSurvey results feature data for more than 300 health care specific job titles and also contain data by bed size, number of employees, revenue and geography. The results provide a comprehensive summary of pay and benefits data tailored to the health care industry with an effective date of January 1, 2008.

Compdata Surveys, www.compdatasurveys.com, is the nation’s leading compensation and benefits survey data provider. In addition to the Healthcare eSurvey, Compdata Surveys publishes Compensation Data, a multi-industry pay and benefits survey available in states across the country. Compdata Surveys has been providing accurate, reliable data at affordable prices to organizations from coast to coast since 1988. For further information about the compensation and benefits surveys, contact Lane Odle at (800) 300-9570 or lodle[at]compdatasurveys.com.

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