(Bloomberg News) One-third of U.S. employers plan to move their workers' health-care coverage to a private exchange in the next few years, a survey found, following the lead of companies like Walgreen Co. seeking to reduce costs.
While 95 percent of employers said they would continue to offer health care in the next three to five years, 33 percent might use a private exchange to provide the benefit. That's up from 5 percent currently, according to a survey released yesterday by a unit of Aon, a London-based insurance broker.
Traditionally, most large employers are self-insured, meaning they take on the financial risk of their employees' health costs. Under a private exchange, workers are given a subsidy to pick from a limited number of insurance plans.