SURVEYDESIGNANDMETHODS SurveyDesignandMethods TheKaiserFamilyFoundationandtheHealthResearch&EducationalTrust(Kaiser/HRET)conductthisannualsurveyof employer-sponsoredhealthbenefits. HRET,anonprofitresearchorganization,isanaffiliateoftheAmericanHospital Association. TheKaiserFamilyFoundationdesigns,analyzes,andconductsthissurveyinpartnershipwithHRET,andalso fundsthestudy. KaisercontractswithresearchersatNORCattheUniversityofChicago(NORC)toworkwiththeKaiserand HRETresearchersinconductingthestudy. Kaiser/HRETretainedNationalResearch,LLC(NR),aWashington,D.C.-basedsurvey researchfirm,toconducttelephoneinterviewswithhumanresourceandbenefitsmanagersusingtheKaiser/HRETsurvey instrument. FromJanuarytoJune2017,NRcompletedfullinterviewswith2,137firms. SURVEYTOPICS Thesurveyincludesquestionsonthecostofhealthinsurance,healthbenefitofferrates,coverage,eligibility,enrollment 4 patterns, premiumcontributions, employeecostsharing,prescriptiondrugbenefits,retireehealthbenefits,andwellness benefits. Kaiser/HRETaskseachparticipatingfirmasmanyas400questionsaboutitslargesthealthmaintenanceorganization(HMO), preferredproviderorganization(PPO),point-of-service(POS)plan,andhigh-deductiblehealthplanwithasavingsoption 5 (HDHP/SO). Wetreatexclusiveproviderorganizations(EPOs)andHMOsasoneplantypeandreporttheinformationunderthe bannerof“HMO”;ifanemployersponsorsbothanHMOandanEPO,theyareaskedabouttheattributesoftheplanwiththe larger enrollment. Similarly, starting in 2013, plan information for conventional (or indemnity) plans was collected within the PPObattery. LessthanonepercentoffirmsthatcompletedthePPOsectionhadmoreenrollmentinaconventionalplanthan in a PPOplan. Firmswith50ormoreworkerswereasked: “Doesyourfirmofferhealthbenefitsforcurrentemployeesthrougha private or corporate exchange?” EmployerswerestillaskedforplaninformationabouttheirHMO,PPO,POSandHDHP/SOplan regardlessofwhethertheypurchasedhealthbenefitsthroughaprivateexchangeornot. Firmsareaskedabouttheattributesoftheircurrentplansduringtheinterview. Whilethesurvey’sfieldingperiodbeginsin January,manyrespondentsmayhaveaplanwhose2017planyearhasnotyetbegun[FigureM.1]. Insomecases,plansmay reporttheattributesoftheir2016plansandsomeplanattributes(suchasHSAdeductiblelimits)maynotmeetthecalendar yearregulatoryrequirements. 4 HDHP/SOpremiumestimatesdonotincludecontributionsmadebytheemployertoHealthSavingsAccountsorHealthReimbursementArrangements. 5 HDHP/SOincludeshigh-deductiblehealthplanswithadeductibleofatleast$1,000forsinglecoverageand$2,000forfamilycoverageandthatoffereithera HealthReimbursementArrangement(HRA)oraHealthSavingsAccount(HSA).AlthoughHRAscanbeofferedalongwithahealthplanthatisnotanHDHP, thesurveycollectedinformationonlyonHRAsthatareofferedalongwithHDHPs. ForspecificdefinitionsofHDHPs,HRAs,andHSAs,seetheintroductionto Section8. The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust / Page 16