MetLife data links communication to loyalty—One of 3 things you need to know this week in employee benefits

MetLife annual trends study: Good benefits communication = loyal employees

According to MetLife’s 12th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, employees who think their employer does a good job with benefits communications are “more than twice as likely to say they are very loyal to their company.”

Employers already committed to communication should feel buoyed, since this data shows that they’re on the right track. Benefits pros looking to make even larger investments in employee communication now have credible data on their side as they go into meetings with the C-suite.

Other study highlights: Employees are more satisfied with their benefits now than ever over the study’s 12-year history, and significantly more employees say their benefits are the reason they joined or remained with their company.

However, they still could use more help:

• 40% are looking to their employers for help achieving financial security through benefits.
• 50% agree they need help understanding how their benefits work.
• 58% aren’t confident that they’re using their benefits effectively now. 

The key to increasing employee understanding and perceived value of your benefit programs is quality, year-round communication. Employers who’d like a roadmap to guide their communications efforts can download our recently updated white paper, Creating Results with Benefits Communication. In it, we’ve laid out our proven three-step process for effective communication.

Greater consumer choice shakes up the health care system

As public and private health insurance exchanges continue to grow and enrollments run more smoothly, one consulting director tells Employee Benefit News that the explosion of consumer choice will be a “major disruptor” to our nation’s health care system.

Federal data show that some 8 million enrollees now have coverage through public exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act, and another 3 million are covered by private exchange plans, according to Accenture.

Since ACA requires more transparency for consumers to choose plans according to cost and quality information, one consultant leader tells EBN the new influx of data will lead to “a more efficient market system.”

This week’s hidden gem: Startup uses Google Glass to create ‘wearable health record’

Although Google Glass hasn’t quite received a hearty embrace by the general public, physicians are one segment of the population that’s fully embraced the new technology.

In fact, to meet physician demand for Google Glass, one California-based startup has created a new application for the gadget that it calls the “first wearable health record."

The app, called Drchrono, allows doctors to record patient consultations and procedures—with patient permission, of course. The recordings are stored and secured in a patient’s e-medical record through a cloud-based storage service. The record can be shared with patients on request.

Bonus: Join or download our Benefits Communication Master Class

We recently completed the third session in our five-part webinar series, Benefits Communication Master Class! We’re delighted and gratified by the positive reception the Master Class has gotten from benefits professionals. A sampling of the feedback:

"The presentations are clear, to the point and chock full of helpful tips. Plus, the Q&A sessions are a little treasure trove."

We hope you’ll join us Thursday, June 26 at 11 PT for part four, “Data drives decisions: Segmenting and targeting benefits communication.” In the meantime, if you’ve missed any of the series thus far, download slides and recording for sessions 1-3 here.