The Employer Health Benefits Survey, an annual survey conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET), recently unveiled new data on employer health coverage in 2008. Among the many findings, the report highlighted that:
- Health insurance premiums rose by 5 percent in 2008, with premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rising to $12,680 annually for family coverage and employees paying $3,354 out of their paychecks to cover their share of the cost.
- The rate of increase in premiums has moderated over the last year, but despite this, premiums have more than doubled since 1999 when total family premiums stood at $5,791.
- There continues to be a move toward high-deductible plans that include a tax-preferred savings option such as a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). Enrollment in these plans has increased to 8 percent from 5 percent last year, with more small firm workers than large firm workers enrolled in these plans.
- Employer offer rates of health insurance coverage continue to differ dramatically by firm size: nearly all (99 percent) large firms with 200 or more employees offered coverage, but only 49 percent of firms with three to nine employees offer coverage.
For more findings from the survey, see the full report available here.
