HMOs Lose Share 

Plans that incorporate health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements now cover 15.4% of the employees at the 12,316 employers that participated in a survey conducted by United Benefit Advisors, Indianapolis.

Health maintenance organization plans cover just13.6% of the employees at the participating employers, while traditional indemnity plans cover only 0.4% of the employees, according to UBA, a benefits advisory firm consortium.

Preferred provider organization plans now dominate the market, with a 63.9% share.

The average cost increase was 7.3% for all participating plans and 6.3% for the health account plans.

At employers that contributed to employee HRAs, the average employer HRA contribution was $1,310 for a single employee, up from $1,209 in 2008, and $2,502 for a family, up from $2,274.

About 53% of covered employees chose to cover dependents.