Health plan most important to workers: Survey

Seventy-five percent of workers consider group health care coverage to be the most important employee benefit, according to a survey released Thursday by the National Business Group on Health.

The survey found that 83% of workers would rather have their salary or retirement benefits reduced rather than their health benefits cut.

Additionally, 75% of respondents said would rather receive health benefits through their employer than receive a higher salary to help offset the cost of buying coverage on their own.

"The fact that so many employees are opposed to giving up any aspect of their health benefits, even in return for an improvement in other benefits, speaks volumes as to just how important they are from a worker and employer perspective," said NBGH President Helen Darling.

The survey, conducted in February, consisted of online questionnaires filled out by 1,619 employees of various ages and income levels, who work for companies with more than 2,500 employees and who are considered the head of their household.