NU Online News Service, July 20, 3:20 p.m. EDT
The majority of respondents to a health care reform survey were not in favor of an employer mandate or government-sponsored public health plan, according to Aon Consulting, a unit of Chicago-based insurance broker Aon Corp.
The survey of more than 1,100 United States-based employers conducted in June 2009 found that 58 percent of the employers oppose a public plan option similar to Medicare as a way to increase the number of Americans with health insurance.
Fifty-six percent of the employers oppose a plan that would eventually be offered to larger employers through a health insurance exchange, Aon said.
If the government-run plan had lower provider reimbursement levels and richer benefits, 39 percent of employers said they would continue group health coverage and then re-evaluate after one or two years, while 10 percent said they would drop group coverage sponsorship.
Sixty-three percent of the employers oppose an employer mandate requiring them to sponsor group health insurance for employees or to set aside money in a government fund, according to the survey.
Seventy-six percent of the employers said changes in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act limiting or preventing countrywide employers from funding a consistent nationwide health plan could lead to a re-examination or termination of health coverage options, Aon said.
In regards to fixing the U.S. health care system, 93 percent of employers said continuing employer-based health care with more focus on wellness, chronic condition management, evidence-based management and other approaches is the best way to increase the number of Americans with health insurance.
Seventy-three percent of employers said widespread prevention and wellness programs were the most effective way to lower medical costs, Aon noted.
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