Last week, a benchmark survey of employers revealed that because of a faltering economy and no rise in salaries, employees are carrying a lot of health coverage burden, compared to earlier times.

The Obama administration is preparing to launch programs, which intend to provide support to the workers as mentioned in the health reform law. It is reported that a number of employers are interested in taking up these plans.

Specialists are of the view that though it is not clear that how these federal programs will turn out to be, it is mandatory that both the Companies and the employees should work towards strategies that are cost-effective.

Drew Altman, President and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said, “It's the first time that I can remember seeing employers shifting all the costs to workers. It speaks to the depths of the recession and holding the line on costs while trying to avoid layoffs”.

The 12th annual survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the HRET that was made public last week revealed that this is certainly bad news for the employees. The survey that involved over 3,000 big and small organizations found that the workers were being burdened all the more with health care costs.