VIII. Employers’ Health Benefits Survey

Most non-elderly Californians get their health insurance through employment. Nearly six out of every ten Californians are covered by a health plan obtained through their own or a family member’s employment. Job-based coverage usually provides broader benefits and smaller deductibles and copayments than privately purchased insurance, and it usually costs the enrollee less because employers typically contribute part of the cost.

To understand the specifics regarding the availability and costs of health insurance benefits for Humboldt/Del Norte residents, a "Employer Health Benefits Survey" was undertaken as part of the data collection process. This section will describe the survey process, the survey results and necessary limitations to the survey results.

A. Survey Process

In the Fall of 1997, a survey of large businesses located in Humboldt/Del Norte County was undertaken. The survey form, which was provided by the Developing Rural Integrated Systems (DRIS) project and used at other DRIS sites, asked questions regarding whether or not a business provided health benefits to employees, numbers of employees, types of health plans offered, cost information, waiting periods before receiving benefits, and satisfaction with health plans.

The survey was mailed to all businesses in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties which employed more than 30 employees (both full-time and part-time.) This size limit was chosen in part because small firms (less than 50 employees) are much less likely to offer their employees health benefits than are larger firms (66% versus 95%). (Schauffler et al, "The State of Health Insurance in California, 1966, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research).¹⁰ The sheer number of businesses in the area also influenced this decision. Of the approximately 5,250 business locations in the region, 90% employ less than 20 persons. (Source: California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information, 1997).¹¹

Names of businesses with more than 30 employees were identified by contacting local Chambers of Commerce throughout the two county area. A total of 147 businesses were identified. A copy of the survey was mailed to each business in October 1997. A follow-up survey was mailed two weeks later if a reply had not been received. Finally, follow-up phone calls from a local DRIS employee were made in December to encourage employers to respond.

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