Nearly 10% of employers to drop health benefits, survey finds

Nearly 10% of employers anticipate dropping health coverage for their workers in the next three years as medical costs keep rising, according to a new survey by consulting firm Deloitte. The vast majority of companies, 81%, said they plan to continue providing health benefits even as new rules begin in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. An additional 10% of employers said they weren't sure, the survey said. More than 160 million Americans get their healthcare through employer-sponsored plans. The average cost for healthcare benefits increased 9% last year, while average wages grew 2.1%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation & Health Research Educational Trust.