Employer-sponsored health premiums are stable, for now: 4 numbers to know

Average premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance stayed largely stable this year, but that could change soon, according to the annual Employer Health Benefit Survey from Kaiser Family Foundation. 

The survey includes 2,188 non-federal public and private firms with three or more employees. 

According to an Oct. 27 news release, this year's findings are unusual in that the rate of health insurance premiums increased less than the rates of inflation or employee wages. 

"Employers are already concerned about what they pay for health premiums, but this could be the calm before the storm, as recent inflation suggests that larger increases are imminent," Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said in the release. 

Here are four numbers to know from this year's survey: 

  1. The average annual family premium for employer-sponsored plans in 2022 was $22,463, up slightly from $22,221 in 2021. Workers contribute $6,106 on average to premiums. 

  2. The average deductible for employer-sponsored coverage is $1,763, similar to last year's number. This number has increased dramatically since 2012, when the average deductible was $1,097. 

  3. Workers at firms with fewer than 200 employees pay more for their coverage than those at larger companies. The average annual contribution for workers at small firms in 2022 was $7,556, compared to $5,580 at large firms. 

  4. Almost half of large firms, 48 percent, say more employees are using mental health services in 2022 than in 2021. Another 27 percent of large employers said they added mental health providers to their networks this year. 


Read the full survey results here.

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