Employees are paying more for their health coverage through a variety of strategies, according to the Society of Human Resource Management's 2006 benefits survey.

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Employers get employees to pay more by tweaking the following levers (in order of prevalence): increased co-pays and/or co-insurance (66%), increased participant cost (59%), higher deductibles (56%), and higher participant drug costs (55%). Just because employers are raising the cost of health care for workers does not mean they are ready to scrap the benefit. Only 4% of respondents said they had considered eliminating health care coverage.

The survey, which was released during the group's national conference in Washington D.C., also details other changes in benefits over the past year.

The biggest increases transpired in well-baby programs (up to 83% of employers from 40% last year), prenatal programs (up to 82% from 25%) and chiropractic insurance (up to 81% from 56%). Additionally, more employers are providing emergency child care, onsite vaccinations, weight-loss programs, gym membership subsidies, individual investment advice, general financial education, onsite parking and casual dress days.

The largest downward slides occurred among the number of employers offering telecommuting part-time (down to 26% from 37%), credit unions (down to 46% from 55%), scholarships for workers' family members (down to 19% from 27%), paid time off plans (down to 53% from 60%) and contraceptive coverage (down to 75% from 82%)

Source: Employee Benefit Adviser