Compounding economic pressures, most utilities in the United States saw an increase in their health insurance premium. Although the average premium increase had been decreasing in previous years, the numbers are up again. The 2009 Compensation Data Utilities results showed the average premium increase was 8.3 percent for all plan types this year.

Comparatively, the average premium increase was 6.3 percent in 2008 and then, 9.8 percent the previous year. When comparing plans in 2009, 75.6 percent of organizations offering PPO plans saw an average increase of 8.4 percent. Those offering HMO and POS plans had average premium increases of 8.5 and 9 percent, respectively. HDHP plans had increases of 6.6 percent.

“Medical plans continue to be a source of scrutiny, as high health insurance costs are cutting into organizations’ bottom lines,” said Amy Kaminski, manager of marketing programs for Compdata Surveys. “Organizations continue to search for ways to reduce healthcare costs, but often higher costs are passed on to employees.”

To contain rising costs, U.S. utilities utilized a variety of methods. The most highly used was coordination of benefits at 89.5 percent in 2009, while a network of healthcare professionals was employed by 80 percent. Disease management was prevalent, as 61.8 percent of organizations used it to contain costs.

The 2009 Compensation Data Utilities results showed 56.2 percent of companies increased the employee portion of the premium in their efforts to reduce costs. This is higher than the percentage seen in 2007. Also, 38.2 and 20.8 percent of organizations increased deductible levels and employee co-insurance levels, respectively. On average, utilities contribute 10.6 percent of payroll toward the cost of health benefits, which is close to the cost to provide all of the following benefits: dental, life, retirement, disability and other non-mandated benefits.

About the Survey
Compensation Data Utilities 2009 contains data on over 100 industry-specific job titles and more than 250 benchmark titles ranging from entry-level to top executives. Data is collected annually from employers across the country. The results provide a comprehensive summary of pay data, benefit information and pay practices with an effective date of February 1, 2009.

Compdata Surveys is the nation’s leading compensation and benefits survey data provider. Thousands of U.S. organizations provide data each year ensuring the reliability of our results. Compdata Surveys has been providing comprehensive data at affordable prices to organizations from coast to coast since 1988. For further information about the compensation and benefits surveys, contact Amy Kaminski at (800) 300-9570.