Fifty-two per cent of those polled would choose their health benefit plan over an additional cash compensation of $15,000 per year. Ninety two percent said they would choose their plan over an extra week’s vacation, and 59% would choose health benefits over a more generous pension plan. Even when the cash was increased to $20,000 nearly half still would choose their health benefit plan.

Younger plan members, aged 18–34, are more likely than their older counterparts to opt for the cash over their plans – 65 percent would take the $20,000 and 54 percent would take $15,000.