LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Enrollment results from the industry's largest private health care exchange indicate that when given more choice and control, employees become more engaged and invested in selecting their health benefits. This is according to a new analysis from Aon Hewitt, the global human resources business of Aon plc (AON).

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During the 2013 annual enrollment period last fall, more than 100,000 U.S. employees successfully enrolled in health benefits through Aon Hewitt's Corporate Health Exchange, the only fully insured, multi-carrier corporate health exchange available to large national employers today. According to Aon Hewitt's post-enrollment analysis, almost 80 percent of enrollees felt confident they chose the health plan that offered the best value for them and their family, and almost all (93 percent) liked being able to choose among multiple carriers.

"When given more options, employees become empowered to make individual choices based on value, provider network, price and health status," said Ken Sperling, Aon Hewitt's national health exchange strategy leader. "Employees like having control over such an important decision and appreciate not being limited to a pre-determined plan and insurance company."

Aon Hewitt's Corporate Health Exchange consolidates purchasing power while providing best-in-market health insurance options for employees. Through its strong relationships with insurance providers, Aon Hewitt's Corporate Health Exchange offered a wide range of health, dental and vision benefits options from multiple national and regional carriers during the 2013 enrollment period, including UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente, HealthNet, Health Care Service Corporation (operating Blue Cross Plans in IL, NM, OK and TX) and Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan.

"Aon Hewitt's corporate exchange allowed us to move away from a one-size fits all approach to providing health benefits," said Danielle Kirgan, senior vice president of Total Rewards and Shared Services at Darden Restaurants, one of the companies participating in Aon Hewitt's corporate health care exchange in 2013. "This year, we were able to offer a broader array of health care choices than we have in the past, giving our employees the flexibility to choose the level of coverage that best meets their needs at a price they could afford."

During enrollment, employees could quickly and easily sort and filter benefits options by price, carrier and/or plan type using Aon Hewitt's proprietary exchange portal. Participating insurance providers highlight the unique features and capabilities of their plans to help employees differentiate between coverage options and optimize their choices. Aon Hewitt's benefits experts and advisorsincluding its industry-leading Advocacy Support teamprovided expertise, answers to questions and guidance throughout the enrollment process.

Enrollment by Plan Type

According to Aon Hewitt's post-enrollment analysis, two-thirds of employees who participated in the corporate exchange said they now had a good understanding of how they share the cost of medical insurance with their employer. When choosing a coverage level, most employees said they based their choice on the desire to choose a plan that offered coverage similar to their current plan and price.

Aon Hewitt's enrollment data shows that 39 percent of employees enrolled in a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP), up from 12 percent in 2012. Conversely, the number of employees who enrolled in a PPO-type plan decreased from 70 percent in 2012 to 47 percent in 2013. However, while a significant number of employees migrated toward consumer-driven health plans, Aon Hewitt's data revealed that when given the choice, a fair number of employees chose to increase their coverage. For 2013, 32 percent of employees chose a plan similar in type to their current coverage (e.g., PPO to PPO), while 26 percent of employees chose richer coverage. Forty-two percent of employees chose to reduce their regular payroll contributions and select a less rich form of coverage.

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Enrollment Results Show Aon Hewitt's Corporate Health Exchange Empowers Employees to Become More Astute Health Care ...