Frustration Grows Over ‘Relentless’ Employer Plan Premium Rise

The premium costs of employer-sponsored health plans increased by 4% this year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s (KFF) annual Employer Health Benefits Survey. KFF analysts and health care purchasers alike say the annual growth rate in health care costs — employer plan premiums for a family have grown by 47% since 2011 and 283% since 1998, according to KFF — causes unsustainable financial strain for both employers and plan members.

KFF also identified several emerging trends in employer coverage driven by cost growth and the COVID-19 pandemic. Deductibles and other forms of member cost sharing have increased in recent years. The share of employees in high-deductible plans declined slightly in 2021, but accounted for roughly a quarter of employer enrollment, a similar figure to recent years. Employer insurance experts have mixed opinions on whether these trends will continue. Meanwhile, in response to the pandemic, firms expanded their telehealth offerings and behavioral health benefits this year.