Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance are paying more for coverage, with their average annual contribution toward family premiums rising 9% to $7,471 in 2026.
The increase comes as the average annual premium for family coverage rose 5% to $28,303, according to a KFF survey released Thursday.
Survey Shows Rising Costs for Workers
Among large employers, those with at least 200 employees, 44% said they raised what workers pay toward coverage. Workers’ earnings rose an average of 3.7% this year, while overall inflation was 2.7%, as per the survey.
Matthew Rae, associate director of the Program on the Health Care Marketplace at KFF, said that when employers see higher use or higher prices, “there are only a limited number of things employers can do” to slow premium increases, KFF Health News reported.
To hold down their own costs, employers also reported increasing deductibles, changing insurers, adding preapproval for some services or offering workers a narrower choice of providers, the survey said. Among workers’ average annual deductibles for individual coverage, large companies averaged $1,772, while companies with fewer than 200 employees averaged $2,624.
The survey also found 29% of all companies said covering GLP-1s, a new class of weight-loss drugs, had a “significant” effect on their drug costs.
Separately, consulting firm Aon projected employers could pay 9.5% more next year, the fourth consecutive year of big increases, while consulting firm Marsh estimated 8.2%, the highest jump since 2003. The reports say costs are rising for many reasons, from people using more services to rising prescription drug and hospital prices.
Warren and Boyle React
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote in a post on X: “Health care costs for workers are set to jump 8.2% next year, the biggest spike in 20+ years.” She added: “Healthcare conglomerates are jacking up prices after Republicans cut health care funding.”
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) wrote on X that “Americans have been loud and clear that they want affordable health care and lower costs.” He added: “Republicans in Washington cut Americans’ health care so they could give billionaires massive tax breaks.”
The posts come as KFF Health News reported that polls show healthcare costs among the top concerns of likely voters ahead of the midterm elections.
GLP-1 Spending and Medical Debt
On GLP-1 costs at one employer, Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) CEO Brian Moynihan had said the company spends about $250 million or more a year on the drugs for employees, about 13% of its more than $2 billion in annual employee healthcare spending.
On the burden for insured workers, a Commonwealth Fund report found 32% of working-age adults with private insurance are paying off medical bills or debt over time, and 30% said they delayed or avoided needed care.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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