Survey: Big companies expect health care reform to raise costs

Big companies think health care reform will hike their costs, but most expect to continue offering subsidized benefits to workers, according to a new Towers Watson study.

The benefits consultant surveyed 661 companies this month and found that 94 percent of those that responded believe the reform law passed by Congress earlier this year will raise costs. Eighty-eight percent plan to pass the increases on to employees, and 74 percent anticipate reducing health benefits and programs, according to a May 25article inThe Washington Post.