Since 2002, employer-based health premiums have skyrocketed 97 percent — that’s three times the rate of wage increases (33 percent) and the national rate of inflation (28 percent). However, this year’s 4 percent increase was only slightly ahead of wage increases (1.7 percent) and inflation (2.3 percent).
The survey looked at the health insurance costs of more than 2,000 small and large employers. Although premiums are growing at near-historic lows due to less healthcare utilization, the survey found that deductibles and total premiums are still hitting employees at lower-wage companies hard. Forty-four percent of insured employers at low-wage firms had an annual deductible of $1,000 or more compared with 29 percent of high-wage employees.
To view the full report on Kaiser’s and HRET’s 2012 employer health benefits survey, click here (pdf).
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