The results of the sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey released at the end of July reveal that employer engagement is a good investment.
The majority of Canadian employees (59%) that benefit from a health care plan think highly of their plan’s quality. The current economic climate has strengthened this appreciation of quality, with 77% of respondents agreeing that the economic uncertainty has increased the value they place on their health benefit plan.
Most employers reimburse prescription drugs, with 94% of employees polled having access to such plans. In addition, nine out of ten employees said it was important for their plans to cover vaccinations. The study also revealed that one out of ten employees may not fill a needed prescription if it is not covered by their plan, with this number jumping to 23% for households with an annual income below $30,000. Almost four in ten (37%) respondents said their physician has asked whether they have benefit coverage before writing a prescription, up from 28% in 2009.
A good employee health care plan is considered an excellent investment for employers, because employees think more positively of their employer, and are more likely to stay with an employer offering this kind of benefit.