New AHRQ Reports Show Private Insurance Premiums Rising at Modest Rate

Average annual premiums for employer-sponsored private health insurance rose 3.5 percent for individuals and 3.6 percent for families in 2013, according to a series of newly published AHRQ statistical briefs. Comparing premium amounts in 2012 with 2013, single coverage rose from $5,384 to $5,571 while family coverage increased from $15,473 to $16,029. The findings are based on data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), an annual survey of nearly 40,000 households conducted annually since 1996. The briefs are State Differences in the Cost of Job-Related Health Insurance, 2013;Selection and Costs For Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in the Private Sector, 2013 versus 2012; and Offer Rates, Enrollment Rates, Premiums and Employee Contributions for Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in the Private Sector for the 10 Largest Metropolitan Areas, 2013. MEPS is the most comprehensive national data source measuring how Americans pay for and use medical care, health insurance and out-of-pocket spending.

STATISTICAL BRIEF #444:
State Differences in the Cost of Job-Related Health Insurance, 2013

July 2014

Karen E. Davis, MA

Highlights

Among the 10 largest States, the percentage of employees opting for single coverage ranged from 44.6 percent in Michigan to 56.4 percent in North Carolina, for employee-plus-one coverage from 18.1 percent in California to 21.0 percent in Michigan, and for family coverage from 23.9 percent in North Carolina to 34.4 percent in Michigan.
Nationwide, average premiums were $5,571 for single coverage, $10,990 for employee-plus-one coverage, and $16,029 for family coverage. Among the 10 largest states, single premiums ranged from $5,218 in North Carolina to $6,156 in New York, employee-plus-one premiums ranged from $9,969 in North Carolina to $12,216 in New York, and family premiums ranged from $14,762 in Georgia to $17,530 in New York.
Contributions toward health insurance premiums made by employees nationwide averaged $1,170 for single coverage, $2,940 for employee-plus-one coverage, and $4,421 for family coverage. Among the 10 largest states, employee contributions for single coverage ranged from $1,053 in Ohio to $1,408 in Florida, for employee-plus-one coverage from $2,389 in Ohio to $3,700 in Florida, and for family coverage from $3,631 in Ohio to $5,653 in Florida.

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STATISTICAL BRIEF #446: Offer Rates, Enrollment Rates, Premiums and Employee Contributions for Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in the Private Sector for the 10 Largest Metropolitan Areas, 2013

STATISTICAL BRIEF #446:
Offer Rates, Enrollment Rates, Premiums, and Employee Contributions for Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in the Private Sector for the 10 Largest Metropolitan Areas, 2013

July 2014

David Kashihara

Highlights

Of the 10 largest metropolitan areas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Boston experienced higher percentages of employees working where health insurance was offered than the 84.9 percent national average. Atlanta was the only area where the percentage of employees enrolled where health insurance was offered exceeded the U.S. average of 58.2 percent.
Chicago and Boston had average premiums and average employee contributions for single coverage that were higher than the national averages ($5,571 national average premium and $1,170 national average contribution).
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston had higher average premiums for employee-plus-one coverage than the national average of $10,990. Houston and Miami-Fort Lauderdale had higher average employee contributions for employee-plus-one coverage than the national average of $2,940.
Atlanta was the only area of the 10 largest with an average premium for family coverage lower than the national average of $16,029. Houston was the only area with an average employee contribution higher than the national average of $4,421.