There are shifts under way in how Americans pay for health insurance. For one thing, the cost of health insurance is higher, both for individuals and for those who pay to cover their entire families, according to the Kaiser Foundation’s newest Health Benefits Survey:
Also, for the first time in several years, the percentage of a premium that is paid by an employer went down. So more workers are having to choose plans that include higher deductibles in order to afford coverage.
The Kaiser Foundation’s newest Health Benefits Survey finds: homeinsurance-companies.com
“In 2010, covered workers contributed a greater share of the total premium, a notable change from the steady share workers have paid on average over the last decade. Covered workers on average contribute 19 percent of the total premium for single coverage (up from 17 percent in 2009) and 30 percent for family coverage (up from 27 percent in 2009). As with total premiums, the premium shares contributed by workers vary considerably around these averages. For single coverage, 28 percent of workers pay more than 25 percent of the total premium while 16 percent make no contribution.”
Read a summary of the study’s truly significant findings [PDF]. Especially noteworthy is one difference between small and large businesses. For those with fewer than 200 employees, 46 percent of workers who have plans with a deductible pay at least $1,000 out of pocket before coverage kicks in. That compares to 17 percent of such employees who work in larger companies.
The complete survey [PDF] also is available.
