www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | AUGUST 2014 25
less labor" equivalent to two million full-
time jobs, between 2017 and 2024. This
prompts the question: How many work-
ers see themselves as "job locked"— re-
luctant to change jobs for fear of losing
health insurance?
In April, Securian Financial Group
conducted a survey of 767 Americans
employed full- (94%) or part-time (6%)
with health insurance as an employee
benefit. The survey shows that 40%
of them appear to be experiencing job
lock: They would leave their jobs if they
could buy health insurance on the open
market that is comparable to the out-of-
pocket cost and coverage they currently
have through their employers.
"Job lock: Hanging on for health in-
surance," summarizes results of the sur-
vey. A large majority of all respondents
(91%) say they like the work they do in
their current jobs. Another big group
(83%) is satisfied or somewhat satisfied
with their current health insurance. But,
many of them dream about doing some-
thing else.
"More than half (56%) say they
have considered leaving their jobs to do
something more personal or meaningful
but didn't because they need the health
insurance they currently purchase in the
work place," said Michelle Hall, manag-
er, Market Research, Securian Financial
Group. "Of that group, more than two-
fifths (43%) say they would start their
own businesses." Another 16% who have
considered quitting say they would work
in a field they prefer where jobs typically
provide little or no health insurance, she
added.
Some 43% of those who took the Se-
curian survey say they've turned down
job offers because the health insurance
benefit didn't meet their needs. Almost
half of married respondents (46%) re-
fused job offers due to unacceptable
health insurance coverage, compared
to about one-third (34%) of the single
people who took the survey. The most-
cited reasons were high cost and inad-
equate coverage.
Demographics: •
94% of respondents have full-time •
jobs
More than half (55%) hold manage- •
rial or professional positions
50% report annual household in- •
comes of $50,000 - $99,999 and 23%
report $100,000 and higher.
See Securian's previous consumer
surveys in the Research section at secu-
riannews.com.
