70 percent of U.S. employers to keep health insurance

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BROOKFIELD, Wis., April 16 (UPI) -- Almost 70 percent of U.S. employers say they will continue to provide employer-sponsored healthcare when health exchanges begin in 2014, a survey indicates.

Preliminary survey results of U.S. employers by the International Foundation Survey finds a 23 point increase from 2012 where 46 percent report being certain that they will continue employer-sponsored healthcare.

In addition, another 25 percent state they are very likely to continue employer-sponsored healthcare.

These results are based on survey responses by 950 employee benefit professionals and practitioners through March 26.

Estimates of cost increases directly associated with the Affordable Care Act increased from 2012 to 2013. Employers with 50 or fewer employees report the largest anticipated cost increase, but larger employers are the least likely to see significant cost increases.

With implementation of the Affordable Care Act only months away, 90 percent of employers moved beyond a "wait and see" attitude and more than half say they are developing tactics to deal with the implications of reform.

Since the first survey in 2010, employers most commonly said keeping compliant was their top focus. In 2013, for the first time, employers are more likely to say their top focus is developing tactics to deal with implications of the law.

Final survey results are scheduled to be released in May. No margin of error was provided.