KaiserReleases Annual Health Premium Survey

The Kaiser Foundation has released its 2009 annual employer provided health insurance study.

Some of the highlights include in the study which reports costs of employer provided health insurance (but does NOT include dental, vision, disability, or life insurance coverages in the statistics below):

Nationally, Average annual premium:

Single coverage: $402 per month, $4,824 annually

Family coverage: $1,115 per month, $13,375 annually

In the Midwest, Average annual premium:

Single coverage: $403 monthly, $4,834 annually

Family: $1,125 monthly, $13,498 annually


New this year are charts which provide a statistical bell chart showing the distribution of premiums. (See page 25 and 26 of the full report for the graphical view.) However, this is an example of what it says in a linear format:

For family coverage:

Premiums greater than $20,000 annually are in top 4 percent

Premiums greater than $18,000 annually are in top 9 percent

Premiums greater than $16,000 annually are in top 21 percent

Premiums greater than $14,000 annually are in top 42 percent

The average as mentioned above is $13,375.

In terms of employers:

Only 60 percent of firms offer health benefit coverage. This has dropped by nine (9) percent since 2000. In other words, 40 percent of employers do not offer their employees coverage.

In terms of employees:

79 percent are eligible for health care coverage. Of these 81 percent take up (enroll in) their employer's plan. So the overall percentage of employees covered by their employer's plan is 65 percent.

Types of Plans employees are enrolled in:

60 percent are in a PPO (like MESSA Choices or Community Blue)

20 percent are in an HMO (like Blue Care Network)

10 percent are in a POS plan

8 percent are in a High deductible health plan or self insured plan

1 percent are in a conventional plan (like MESSA Supercare or conventional Blue Cross)


EMPLOYEE's SHARING OF PREMIUMS:

For single coverage, the employee's share of the premium is typically 17 percent of the premium or about $65 per month.

For full family coverage, the employee's share of the premium is typically 27 percent of the premium or about $293 per month.

On an annual basis, single employees are typically paying $779, the employer pays $4,045 and the total premium is $4,824.

For family coverage the annual amounts are: $3,515 paid by employee, $9,860 paid by employer, and $13,375 total premium.


In terms of prescription drug coverage,

11 percent of employees have four tiered plans

67 percent of employees have triple tiered plans

12 percent of employees have two tiered plans

5 percent have single tier

3 percent have no Rx co-pay once the deductible is met

3 percent "other"

The typical Rx plans are:

Two tier

$10 generic/$27 preferred

Three tier:

$10/$27/$46 non-preferred

Four tier:

$10/$27/$46/$85 (I am not sure what the 4th tier is called.)


The full Kaiser report can be found by clicking on the title to this article.

You may want to at least take a look at the "Summary of Findings"

The full report is chock full of 238 pages of details.

The survey was conducted in the spring of 2009. As a result, I believe it is best compared to a district's 2008-09 premiums.