Health insurance has become the priority fringe benefit in employee job preferences

Serdar HocamAuthor & Editor

Low wages and rising living costs are transforming employees' expectations from employers, while private and complementary health insurance stands out as the most important fringe benefit.

◉ 2 views
Çalışan yan hakta sigortaya bakıyor

Low wages, changing working conditions, and rising living costs are transforming employees' expectations. While fringe benefits are gaining importance alongside wage increases, private and complementary health insurance is becoming the primary choice for employees.

The growing importance of health insurance

The increase in healthcare expenditures turns insurance coverage from merely an additional advantage into one of the decisive factors in job choices.

According to research, health insurance coverages, employee fringe benefit communications, and wellbeing practices rank among the prominent topics of the year.

Companies' insurance rates and flexibility status

According to Mercer Marsh Benefits research, 96 percent of companies offer health insurance to their employees, while only 20 percent implement a flexible fringe benefit program.

Employees want to shape health insurance according to their own needs, and personalized options are replacing standard packages.

Implemented personalized fringe benefit models

In Turkey, some companies implement a personalized health insurance model, and employees can choose among different packages.

For example, in Vodafone's VFlexy program, employees obtain an additional budget based on the limit of the package they choose and can use this budget in different areas.

Health security in collective labor agreements

Health insurance continues to find a place as an important fringe benefit in collective labor agreements as well.

According to the agreement signed between the Journalists' Union of Turkey and Reuters, employees' private health and dental insurance also covers spouses and children.

Demand for insurance selection at the global level

The demand for personalization in health insurance is not limited to Turkey and is increasing worldwide.

According to a study conducted in the US, a large majority of employees find the flexibility to choose their health insurance provider important.