Health Care Still Big Concern for Employees

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty-three percent of employees think health benefits are more important than higher wages, according to the recent "Getting Paid In America" survey conducted by the American Payroll Association.

"With the current changes being made to our health care system, it is no surprise that health benefits are top-of-mind for many Americans," said Kevin Hill, vice president of insurance operations for Paychex. "While the role businesses will play in providing universal access to health insurance continues to be defined, business owners need to carefully weigh their options when deciding what's best for their workforce and budget, keeping in mind just how valuable quality health benefits are to employees."  

The survey also showed employees perceive that healthcare costs are rising fast.  When asked, "How much did the cost of health insurance increase in 2009?" 67 percent of respondents guessed "seven percent" or "nine percent."  The actual increase for 2009 was five percent, according to the 2009 Employer Health Benefits survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Education Trust. This means that, for 67 percent of Americans, the perception of healthcare costs increase is 40-80 percent higher than the actual increase.

"The uncertainty surrounding healthcare is a big concern for employees and business alike," said Dan Maddux, executive director of the American Payroll Association.  "As the costs of healthcare continue to rise, employees should consider Flexible Spending Accounts and other pre-tax, voluntary payroll deductions to ease the burden of these necessary expenses."

The "Getting Paid In America" survey coincides with APA's annual public awareness campaign, National Payroll Week (NPW), held annually during the week of Labor Day. Nearly 30,000 employees responded to the survey, providing insight into how employees are paid in America. For complete results, visit www.nationalpayrollweek.com.

Established in 1982, the American Payroll Association (APA) is the nation's leader in payroll education, publications, and training. The nonprofit association conducts more than 300 payroll training conferences and seminars across the country each year and publishes a complete library of resource texts and newsletters. Every year, nearly 20,000 professionals attend APA training sessions. Representing more than 22,000 members, APA is the industry's highly respected and collective voice in Washington, D.C.  Visit APA online at www.americanpayroll.org.

SOURCE American Payroll Association

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