By the Numbers: Healthcare Costs & Job Title Inflation

Each week, the Mployer Advisor team parses through dozens of reports, industry news, updates, and headlines. Not every statistic or data set warrants an exclusive blog post, but there are numbers that deserve to be reported on a smaller scale.    

Here are some of the top numbers that caught our attention over the past month.

1 in 3

More than one-third of Americans over 50 years old have recently forgone basic needs like food or utilities to pay for healthcare, according to a recent Gallup poll. Additionally, over one-quarter of Americans aged 50 to 64 said that they or a member of their household recently sacrificed medical care due to the high cost. On top of that, 18% of respondents in this same age group said they or a family member had to skip a prescription medication in the past year to save money. If you want more information on prescriptions, check out our upcoming webinar on pharmacy benefits.

263,000

The number of people expected to travel outside of the country this year to seek more affordable medical care, according to data by BenefitsPRO. An additional 523,000 are expected to travel for cheaper dental care, too.

100 million

This is the number of Americans who are in healthcare debt, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. However, this figure is likely on the low side, because it fails to take into account those in debt to family members or on a payment plan through a hospital or other third party. About 1 in 5 of these adults say they don’t believe they will ever be able to pay their healthcare debt off. Unfortunately, the healthcare cost situation is not getting better anytime soon. Check out this recent post from our Founder and CEO to learn why.

60%

This is how many job titles with “senior” in front have jumped since the pandemic, according to a review of job postings conducted by LinkUp. Because of the tough talent market, companies are adding senior-level titles to jobs that don’t always have the responsibilities to match them in order to attract better recruits.  

85%

The percentage of employees who say that “Summer Fridays” make them happier at work, according to a survey by Wisetail. Whether it’s being able to leave early on Fridays, having the entire day off, or just having more overall schedule flexibility, workers really appreciate the extra time. This same survey also found that 65% of workers prefer working outside when the weather is nice.  

12 million

This is the estimated amount of surprise medical bills that will be avoided in 2022 due to the implementation of the “No Surprises Act,” according to an analysis done by AHIP and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

130%

This is the increase in people from 2017 to 2021 who said they are lonely at work, according to an article by Employee Benefit News. This number is likely a result of the isolation caused by the pandemic and the transition to a work-from-home culture. On the flip side, however, 82% of employees work with someone they consider a friend. For tips on how to foster a successful hybrid work culture, watch this on-demand, complimentary webinar.

Looking for more exclusive content? Check out the latest over on the Mployer Advisor blog, or read on for our most recent “By the Numbers: Rising Health Insurance Rates and Jobless Claims.”

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