2009 Employer Health Benefits Survey Data Released
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 2009. Among the many findings, the report highlighted that:
- Health insurance premiums for family coverage rose by 5 percent, more than general inflation, while there was no statistically significant growth in single coverage premiums. Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $13,375 annually for family coverage with employees paying $3,515 of this cost.
- Though the premiums remained fairly stable over the last year, family health insurance premiums have increased 131 percent since 1999 when they stood at $5,791.
- Sixty percent of American employers offer health insurance to their employees, which is not statistically different than the 63 percent that offered insurance in 2008. As in previous years, firm sizes continue to play a major role in employer offer rates with only 46 percent of firms with 3-9 workers offering their employees insurance while 95 percent of firms with 50 or more workers offers insurance.
- Twenty-one percent of employers who offer health benefits to their employees reported that they reduced benefits or increased cost sharing in response to the economic downturn, while 15 percent report that they increased the employee share of health insurance premiums.
For more findings from the survey, see the full report available here.
