According to a recent survey, employees may not understand the benefits of supplemental health coverage and don’t realize that they can use additional protection to cover medical and non-medical costs, including childcare, transportation, and other out-of-pocket and living expenses. Specifically, the survey found that just 34% of workers say that they would use these benefits to cover non-medical expenses related to a serious injury or illness. Nearly half (49%) say they would use their savings, 32% say they would use a credit card, and 22% would borrow from retirement savings. At the same time, employers say they are actually boosting voluntary benefits to address rising medical and insurance costs, insurance deductibles and copayments, changes to the Affordable Care Act, and reduced employer benefits/coverage. You can help raise employee awareness of supplemental benefits by: ensuring an active annual enrollment, starting early and keeping the enrollment process simple, and communicating clearly. Read the full article.
