SHADAC/RWJF-State-Level Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

This report from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) at the University of Minnesota shows the percentage of nonelderly Americans who get employer sponsored health care coverage has declined by eight percent in the last ten years – from 69 percent in 1999-2000 to 61 percent in 2008-2009. The report also found that low- and moderate-income families were the hardest hit by the decline in ESI. According to SHADAC, "There is substantial variation across states in ESI prevalence, availability, cost, and the factors that influence the level of ESI coverage. For this reason, the ACA’s impacts on ESI should be monitored and evaluated at the state level. The ACA’s effects on ESI will likely vary by family income, family characteristics, and job characteristics. In addition, because ACA’s employer requirements focus on employees and not dependents, it will be especially important to understand how the law affects coverage patterns for dependents. The ACA also includes requirements and incentives for employers that vary by firm size; for this reason, state-level trends in ESI by firm size should also be monitored over time."

States that reported a decline in ESI of ten percent or more include: Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas.

Read the full report here.

Watch the webinar here.