Western Pennsylvania workers enjoy better and more valuable health-care-benefit programs than the national average, according to a new survey.

The Henderson Brothers Inc.'s fourth annual Mid-Market Employee Benefits Survey found that the median PPO health-care premium here was $342 for an individual and $1,008 for a family, compared with the national median of $362 per individual and $1,042 per family.

The advantage is most pronounced in the vision care benefit, where regional employers offer 25 percent more coverage than their national counterparts. The survey also found 9 percent to 10 percent more coverage locally for smoking cessation programs, obesity management programs, long-term disability and flex-time schedules.

The region is 5 percent below the national average in employee assistance programs and telecommuting, and just slightly below the national average for health club membership discounts, cholesterol screenings and chronic disease management programs.

Overall, though, benefits for Western Pennsylvania workers amount to 17 percent more compared with other parts of the country, particularly in Preferred Providers Organization programs. PPOs account for about 80 percent of the health plans in this region.

"While there's been an increase in the cost of health-care premiums here and nationwide, employers and employees can take comfort in knowing their dollars are buying more in Western Pennsylvania than they are across the country," said Jim Stewart, benefits division manager for Henderson Brothers, in a release.

The survey also found that medical costs continued to outpace inflation, with a 6 percent increase locally compared with 5 percent in 2007.