One in 10 companies plans to do away with health care coverage for its employees over the next few years, according to a recent study by consulting firm Deloitte.

According to another survey, however, it's more like one in three.

The Affordable Health Care Act will penalize employers of 50 or more $2,000 per employee if they don't provide health care by 2014.

Health care typically costs companies around $5,000 per worker, and paying a fine is cheaper than providing health care, said insurance experts.

"Employer can pay a penalty and then employees can go to, supposedly, an insurance exchange to purchase insurance on their own," said Tom Croyle, president, Lehigh Valley Business Coalition on Health Care, which facilitates health care options for 200 area businesses.

Croyle said he does think companies will give employees some money to help pay for insurance.