This October, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released its annual Employer Health Benefits Survey of more than 2,100 employers. The survey found employers are taking action to protect workers from rising health care costs and enhance access to mental health care offerings. The annual survey examines the trends and benefits offered through employer-provided health care, the single largest source of health care coverage in the U.S.
The report highlights how employer-provided coverage is responsive and prioritizes the well-being of American workers.
Here are the topline findings:
Employee contributions remain unchanged: KFF’s survey found that employers are bearing the brunt of rising health care costs, limiting the impact on workers. While annual premiums for employer-provided coverage have increased, the amount that workers contribute to cover these premiums remained similar to previous years. Since 2019, average premiums have risen by 24%, nearly $5,000, but worker contributions have increased by an average of 5%, less than $300 over this time period.
Employers are shielding lower-income workers from rising costs: KFF found that 29% of employers with over 5,000 workers reported having a program to reduce the full impact of increased premium costs for lower-income workers. Nearly 1-in-5 of large employers surveyed reported offering a more affordable plan with fewer benefits.
Employers are meeting the mental health needs of the workforce: KFF found 48% of employers that had at least 200 employees increased employee access to mental health counseling through an employee assistance program or a third-party vendor. Meanwhile, 22% of companies of the same size increased access to in-person mental health care through new providers. According to KFF, 29% of those large companies increased access to telehealth mental health care providers.
KFF’s findings show that employers continue to work to lower costs and provide additional benefits for workers. Despite medical inflation, employers are taking actions to shield these growing costs from being passed onto workers. And, as demand for mental health services increases, employers are responding by increasing access to more enhanced offerings. Across the board, workers are receiving more through their employer-provided health care at a similar cost to what they paid for last year.
The Protecting Americans' Coverage Together campaign is a coalition that includes the U.S Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Vermeer Corporation, the National Association of Manufacturers and Council for Affordable Health Coverage. PACT represents leading employer voices focused on strengthening employer-provided coverage and protecting the benefits that American families depend on for their health.
