Increase in benefits costs in FL

The Employer Health Benefits Survey revealed the majority of public employees will see an increase in their health insurance costs next year - an average of 4 percent in Florida. While it may seem like a significant uptick, each year for the past decade premiums have grown 10 percent or more for the average employee.

Conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust, the survey explained that the minor increase in cost should not derail workers from evaluating their benefits packages each year to ensure their needs are met.

In light of the healthcare reform law, many health insurance providers are changing what is offered in their policies, and many employer-sponsored benefits packages will be affected as a result. Rather than automatically re-enrolling in the same plan as the year before, employees are encouraged to review the coverage and think of the effects the plan will have now and in the future.

While the healthcare reform law is placing greater demands on employers and health insurance providers, it is guaranteeing certain benefits for employees and loved ones. For example, coverage for adult children on family plans and preventive screenings for women must now be offered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.