RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 12, 2013-- One in five small businesses remain undecided about the type of healthcare benefits they may offer employees in the next three years, according to a new study released today by EMPLOYERS^® (NYSE:EIG), America's small business insurance specialist^®. The survey polled decision-makers at businesses with between one and 250 employees.

EMPLOYERS Small Business Opinion Poll Snapshot:

• 41 percent of small businesses currently provide health insurance for their employees
• 20 percent plan to provide health insurance directly to employees within the next three years
• 20 percent are not sure what they intend to do within the next three years
• 14 percent expect to refer all or some employees to state-based health benefit exchanges within the next three years

“We were pleasantly surprised to see how many businesses that are not mandated to provide health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act still intend to provide this benefit to employees in the next three years,” said Stephen Festa, executive vice president and chief operating officer for EMPLOYERS.

Eight percent of small businesses with one to four employees expect to provide health insurance directly to their employees. That climbs to 43 percent for small businesses with 20-99 employees and 48 percent for businesses with 100-250 employees.

These intentions reflect small business decision-makers’ attitudes toward health care as a business priority.

• 33 percent of small businesses see health insurance as a strategic business necessity
• 20 percent of small businesses believe health care insurance is a drain on cash flows
• 14 percent of small businesses don’t think much about it
• 4 percent say they provide health insurance but wish they didn’t have to

“While many of these signs are encouraging, the bottom line is that a lot of uncertainty about healthcare remains among small businesses,” Festa said.

Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 532 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between June 18 and June 20, 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

About Employers Holdings, Inc.

Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EIG) is a holding company with subsidiaries that are specialty providers of workers' compensation insurance and services focused on select small businesses engaged in low-to-medium hazard industries. The company, through its subsidiaries, operates throughout the United States. Insurance is offered by Employers Insurance Company of Nevada, Employers Compensation Insurance Company, Employers Preferred Insurance Company, and Employers Assurance Company, all rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Additional information can be found at: www.employers.com.

Copyright © 2013 EMPLOYERS. All rights reserved.

Source: Employers Holdings, Inc.

Employers Holdings, Inc.
Media
Ty Vukelich, 775-327-2677
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
tvukelich@employers.com
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Vicki Erickson, 775-327-2794
Vice President, Investor Relations
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