Canadians prefer health benefits to cash
Fifty-nine percent of group health benefit plan members in Canada would rather keep their health benefit plan than receive $10,000. When the money is doubled to $20,000, 48 percent of those asked would still choose their benefits over the money.
The sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey asked Canadian plan members these questions as a way to help employers better manage employee health benefits.
“Understanding employers and demonstrating the value of improving the health of Canadians is fundamental to sanofi-aventis Canada,” said Hugh O’Neill, President and CEO. “The information in our survey highlights how employers and insurers can improve the satisfaction of their healthcare plans. Better healthcare plans mean healthier employees, better productivity and less pressure on Canada’s public healthcare system.”
The survey of employers, meanwhile, indicates solid support for health promotion or wellness programs. Sixty percent say they already offer such programs, and 68 percent plan to invest more money in this area within the next year. But on the other side, fewer plan members report that their employers promote or provide wellness programs: this year’s result of 23 percent is down from 29 percent a year ago and 31 percent two years ago.
