New Report Measures Premium Increases, Declining Takeup Rates for Private-Sector Employer-Sponsored Insurance

Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance from private-sector employers in the United States ranged from $6,715 for single coverage to nearly $20,000 for family coverage in 2018, an increase on average of about 5 percent from 2017 rates, according to an AHRQ report. The analysis highlights data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey–Insurance Component, which provides a detailed review of employer-sponsored health insurance in America. The new report also showed that among private-sector employees at establishments that offer insurance, the percent who were eligible increased from 77 to 78 percent from 2017 to 2018. Among those who were eligible, however, the percent who enrolled in health insurance fell from 74 to 72 percent. Employer-sponsored insurance is the primary source of health insurance coverage for individuals under age 65. AHRQ surveys more than 42,000 business establishments across the country to make available national and state-level estimates of employer-sponsored health insurance, including offer rates, costs, employee eligibility and the number of enrollees.