Survey Sees Increasing Employer Interest in “Voluntary Benefits”

Employers expect to add significantly more voluntary benefits and services to their benefits packages in the next five years, as health care reform kicks in, according to a recent Towers Watson survey. These can include such things as life, dental and disability insurance, financial counseling and identity theft protection, so that employees can select to “fit their lifestyles,” in some cases with a price and underwriting advantage from a group rate. A Towers Watson health care consultant says the survey shows that employers “are seeking a delicate balance between providing their employees with a competitive rewards package and not inflating costs.”