Troy, MI – September 29, 2023 --- ASE, one of the nation’s oldest and largest employer associations, has released its 2023 Health, Welfare, and Retirement Plans Survey.  The annual survey of employers assesses employer-sponsored health and welfare plans ranging from employer provided medical coverage to retirement plans.

Highlights of the ASE 2023 Health, Welfare, and Retirement Plans Survey include:

• New to the survey this year, employers were polled on the prevalence of Life Insurance Coverage, Disability Coverage, and Retirement Plans.
  • Of the 182 participating companies, 99% of non-unionized employers and 97% of unionized employers reported offering Basic Life Insurance.   
  • 93% of non-unionized employers reported offering Accidental Death & Dismemberment, 91% reported offering Short-Term Disability (STD), and 95% reported offering Long-Term Disability (LTD). 85% of unionized employers reported offering Accidental Death & Dismemberment, 88% reported offering Short-Term Disability (STD), and 94% reported offering Long-Term Disability (LTD).
  • 96% of non-unionized employers and 91% of unionized employers offer a 401(k) or 403(b) plan.  31% of these companies offer immediate participation for employees.
• A majority of the participants (66%) reported offering two to three types of health plans.  The most utilized plan type continues to be Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO) with 89% of companies offering this option.
• Only 38% of the participants report self-funding their health plan, which is one percent more than last year.  Conversely, 75% of large companies (those with 500 or more employees) reported being self-funded, which is 6% more than last year.
• Median employer cost share across all plan types range from 70% to 80% of the premium depending on whether the coverage is for the employee only or employee and family.
• Employers were polled on the prevalence of Opt-Out Incentives for those employees who choose not to elect coverage under the employer-sponsored health plan.  Like last year, only a third of employers surveyed offer that benefit.  Annual opt-out incentives averaged $1,168, however, which is roughly $650 less than last year.
• The three-tiered price structure (generic, preferred brand, non-preferred brand) for prescription drug plans was the most popular among traditional PPOs with 45% of non-unionized organizations reporting this structure, down slightly from a year ago.  Five-tiered structures followed as the second most prevalent option at 28%.  This was a decrease of 3 percentage points from a year ago.
• Median annual employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSA) remained unchanged from the last five years with an employee only contribution totaling $500 and an employee + family contribution totaling $1,000 for both union and non-unionized organizations.
• The number-one cost savings strategy that employers planned to implement continues to be increasing education regarding health plan features and costs (12%). Implementing or expanding wellness programs (29%), increasing the employees cost share (18%), and implementing wellness-based premium discounts (e.g., biometric screens) (16%) top the list of strategies that companies are considering but have yet to set a timeline for.

The ASE 2023 Health, Welfare and Retirement Plans Survey findings were announced by ASE President and CEO, Mary E. Corrado. “This expanded survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of employer-sponsored benefits. As organizations continue to adapt to changing workforce needs, it's clear that employers are committed to providing a wide range of benefits, from life insurance to retirement plans. These findings underscore the dedication of employers to support their employees' well-being and financial security.'"

Background information on the ASE 2023 Health, Welfare and Retirement Plans Survey

182 organizations participated. Organizations with 50 to 499 employees nationally made up more than 56% of the survey sample, while organizations with more than 500 employees nationally represented nearly 31% of the sample. The remaining 13% of the sample came from organizations with fewer than 50 employees nationally.  A variety of industries have been represented in the survey, with durable goods manufacturing (41%) leading the pack. Trades and services (29%) were the second-largest industry representation.

This survey is available at no cost to ASE Member survey participants via the ASE Member Dashboard. It is available for $225 for member non-participants, $825 for non-member participants, and $1,650 for non-member non-participants.  Request to purchase here.

About ASE

ASE is employers trusted partner for Everything HR.  ASE is a non-profit, membership organization – everything we do is based on the needs of members and to drive the success of their organizations and help them THRIVE.  ASE strengthens organization's HR departments by offering member benefits and discounted services that span the entire employee lifecycle including recruitment, development, and retention while minimizing compliance risk. Learn more about ASE at www.aseonline.org.