While most of the executives said their organizations do not plan to reduce benefits, nearly a quarter indicated that employees would have to shoulder increased costs. Other tactics include offering high-deductible consumer driven plans and changing healthcare providers. Some will reduce the level of benefits.

The poll was conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) at its 2007 Summer Controllers Workshop in Las Vegas, which concluded on Friday. Approximately 460 financial executives - primarily certified public accountants representing private, public and not-for-profit organizations - attended the conference. More than half responded to the poll.

"In an effort to contain soaring health care costs, most organizations are trying a variety of strategies, including offering high-deductible consumer-driven plans, changing providers, or reducing company contributions," said John F. Morrow, CPA, AICPA vice president - Business, Industry and Government. "The executives we polled all share concerns about the price of health care, whether they're companies with less than 25 employees or more than a thousand."

Of the survey respondents, 86 percent are either controllers or CFOs. Twenty percent serve companies with more than a billion dollars in annual revenues, and 29 percent are with companies that have between $100 million and a billion dollars in yearly revenues. The remainder work for companies with less than $50 million in annual revenues.

J St. Clair , 09 August 2007 @ 19:00 PM  It would be better to discourage medical coverage to public sector There always seems to be such a large focus on the private sectors benefits - it would be better to correct the public sectors benefits 1st. They are getting far to many benefits through the private sector taxpayers. All benefits need to be eliminated from the public sector such as pension plans, medical coverage of all kinds, and any other benefits they receive. ALSO - IF ANYONE IS ACTUALLY READING THIS - SINCE THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT BELIEVE IN TAXATION - THEN IS WOULD BE IDEAL AND SENSIBLE TO REMOVE ALL FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES. I'M SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE MANY TAXES WE/PRIVATE CITIZENS PAY ON A DAILY BASIS - PAYROLL TAX, SALES TAX, GAS TAX, TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX, AND WHEN FILING YEARLY TAX RETURNS. DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS GOING OVERBOARD? - STOP CONCENTRATING ON CORPORATE TAXES AND START REFORMING EVERYDAY TAXES - I'M SURE THE REPUBLICAN WOULD BE THRILLED TO REMOVE ALL TAXATION FROM OUR SYSTEM ALL TOGETHER - THEY ARE BURDONING THE EVERDAY COMMON MAN FAR TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!