Sixty-four percent of employers who sponsor health care plansbelieve employer-based health care should continue as the mainmechanism for benefits delivery rather than a government system,according to a survey.

And 71 percent indicated that the U.S health care system needs acomplete overhaul, according to the study by the nonprofitInternational Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

The Foundation said it heard from 1,054 respondents, includingemployers who sponsor U.S. benefit plans, trustees and others whoserve in the employee benefits industry.

The Brookfield, Wis.-based organization said only 25 percent ofresponding employers believe the current health care system shouldbe replaced with a government-sponsored national health caresystem, and only 20 percent support replacing the current healthcare system with universal coverage purchased by individuals.

Sally Natchek, the Foundation senior research director, saidthat most Americans with health insurance are covered throughemployer-sponsored health plans and the survey findings "providethe valuable perspective of those who currently shoulder themajority of the responsibility for providing health care."

Sixty-eight percent of respondents indicated that there is aneed for a uniform, nationwide approach to health care. Only 28percent said they believe that states should be the drivers ofchange in health care rather than the federal government.

The Foundation said that while responses indicate employersbelieve a national, employer-based system is needed, there is somereluctance among business operators to mandate employer-providedcoverage, with just 43 percent of respondents agreeing with thisapproach.

While employers generally believe that health care should bereformed, the majority indicated they are not expecting majorchanges in the immediate future. Only 45 percent of respondentsexpect major federal reforms will become law during the nextpresidential term.

Ms. Natchek said, "Like many Americans that are struggling withhealth care, employers are also frustrated with the system, yetthey are skeptical that a solution is eminent."

Other survey findings:

o Only 32 percent of employers have implemented consumer-drivenhealth plans. That figure is much lower among public andmulti-employer plans, with only 17 percent and 12 percent,respectively, offering consumer-driven health plans.

o While the support for consumer-driven plans is not as strongas expected, respondents showed faith in the consumerism concept,with 62 percent citing consumerism as a strategy to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs over the next two years.

o Seventy-two percent of respondents said they believe embracinghealth and wellness as a core value of the organization will be thenumber one way to improve health care quality and reduce costs inthe future.

o Disease management programs to improve health care quality areused by 75 percent of employers.

o Retiree health benefits are still most commonly found withpublic employee plans and multi-employer benefit plans--85 percentand 76 percent, respectively.

The study titled "Health Care Cost Control: Industry Approachesand Attitudes" breaks down respondents answers based on foursectors: corporate plans, public/governmental plans, multi-employerbenefit plans and professional service firms serving the employeebenefits industry.

Available only as an e-book, the 57-page study (Item #6535E) canbe ordered online at www.ifebp.org/books.asp?6535E, option 4, or bycontacting the Foundation Bookstore at [email protected] or (888)334-3327. The cost is $100, $67 for Foundation members.