Health Benefits In 2019: Premiums Inch Higher, Employers Respond To Federal Policy

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Public Health Policy
• Labor Market Studies

Background:

• Employer-sponsored health insurance is a primary source of coverage for U.S. workers.
• Rising healthcare costs and evolving policy landscapes impact benefit offerings and enrollment.
• Understanding employer health benefit trends is crucial for policy analysis and worker welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey data.
• To report on trends in health insurance premiums, worker contributions, and coverage rates.
• To provide context for the role of health insurance in the 2020 election cycle.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey.
• Calculation of average annual premiums for single and family coverage.
• Examination of worker contribution percentages and firm-level offering rates.

Main Results:

• Average annual premiums rose to $7,188 for single coverage (4% increase) and $20,576 for family coverage (5% increase).
• Workers contributed 18% for single and 30% for family coverage on average.
• Fifty-seven percent of firms offered health benefits; 61% of workers were covered by their employer, a stable rate.

Conclusions:

• Employer-sponsored health insurance costs continue to rise, increasing worker financial responsibility.
• Despite policy changes like the individual mandate penalty elimination, overall worker coverage remained consistent.
• These findings provide essential data for understanding the impact of health insurance policies and reforms.