'92% employees look up to employer facilitated insurance

With employee health and benefit landscape undergoing rapid changes, a recent survey revealed that 92 per cent respondents felt their employers should cover a range of risks by facilitating voluntary benefit plans.
"More than half of the surveyed employees depend on their own finances to address the top four risks - medical emergency, disability, loss of property, and loss of income. About 92 per cent employees said they are willing to share premium costs and buy voluntary insurance plans offered by their employers," according to Marsh India's 9th annual 'Employee Health and Benefits' survey.
Further, it revealed that, 33 per cent employees were willing to spend 1-2 per cent while 37 per cent said they could spend 3-5 per cent of their annual salaries on various voluntary insurance plans.

The survey was conducted among over 500 employers and over 2,000 employees from diverse sectors.
About 53 per cent of the employee respondents those who are covered by group medical coverage and 57 per cent of those who are covered by group personal accidents believed that the medical and accident insured benefit plans provided by their employer are inadequate, it said.
The survey also said majority of the employees are keen to invest in top-up, out patient department, and parents insurance plans to minimise their out of pocket expenses.

Interestingly, almost 83 per cent were looking for options to customise the insurance offered by employer such as increasing room rent, maternity limits among others.

"Globally, the working environment is transforming at a faster rate, given the constant socio-economic changes and rising lifestyle standards. Employees form a critical asset in today's knowledge-based economy and the workplace is an integral part of an employee's life," Marsh India Country Head and CEO Sanjay Kedia said.
He said a comprehensive benefit program creates a win-win situation for both for the employee and the employer, where the employee benefits from an inclusive and cost competitive company facilitated plan, while for the employer it contributes to employee well-being and loyalty.
It said, keeping pace with the past few years, the

proportion of Indian organisations that facilitate parents' coverage (fully employer paid plans and cost-shared plans) has increased to 80 per cent.
Meanwhile, to keep the insurance premium cost in check, firms have started looking beyond benefit cuts, said the survey.