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KFF 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey

Oct 30, 2023, 3 Minute Read

Average premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance jumped 7% for both individual and family plans this year — a significant increase after last year’s negligible growth. As disclosed in the 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey, rising employer healthcare premiums have resumed, a reminder that while there has been great progress expanding coverage, people continue to struggle with medical bills.

The 25th annual KFF 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey, conducted between January and July 2023, of 2,133 randomly selected private and non-federal public firms of three or more workers, provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, wellness programs, and employer practices. This year’s report also looks at abortion coverage, mental health and substance use services, and wellness programs.

Key Findings

• The average annual premium for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2023 is $8,435 for single coverage and $23,968 for family coverage. A 7% increase over last year.
• Covered workers contribute 17% of the premium for single coverage and 29% of the premium for family coverage, similar to the percentages contributed in 2022.
• Deductible amounts have been growing relatively slowly. The average deductible in 2023 for single coverage among those with a deductible ($1,735) is similar to the amount last year ($1,763) and only 10% higher than the amount five years ago.
• 30% of covered workers at small firms are enrolled in a plan where the employer pays the entire premium for single coverage. This is the case for only 6% of covered workers at large firms.
• PPOs remain the most common plan type. In 2023, 47% of covered workers are enrolled in a PPO, 29% in a high-deductible plan with a savings option (HDHP/SO), 13% in an HMO, 10% in a POS plan, and 1% in a conventional (also known as an indemnity) plan.
  
• Employers may be reluctant to reduce the value and attractiveness of their coverage offerings during this long period of low unemployment and intense competition for labor.

Additional Findings

• Employer-sponsored coverage availability.
  
  • While nearly all large firms (200 or more workers) offer health benefits to at least some workers, small firms (3-199 workers) are significantly less likely to do so.
  • In 2023, 53% of all firms offered some health benefits, similar to last year (51%).
  • Across firms that offer health benefits and firms that do not, 53% of all workers are covered by health plans offered by their employer –  similar to last year.
• Telemedicine.
  • Among firms with 50 or more workers offering health benefits, 91% cover the provision of some health care services through telemedicine in their largest health plan, similar to 2022 (90%). Large firms are more likely than small firms (50-199 workers) to cover telemedicine services (97% vs. 89%).
  • Overall, 28% of firms say that telemedicine will be “very important” in providing access to enrollees in the future, and another 32% of firms say that it will be “important.”
• Health and wellness programs.
  Most firms offering health benefits offer programs to help workers identify and address health risks and unhealthy behaviors. 62% of small firms and 80% of large firms offer a program in at least one of these areas: smoking cessation, weight management, and behavioral or lifestyle coaching.
• Mental health.
  The sufficiency of mental health providers in plan networks remains a concern for employers in 2023, with only 59% of large employers offering health benefits believing that there are a sufficient number of behavioral health providers in their plan’s network to provide timely access to services for workers and their family members.
• Disease management programs.
  Among firms that offer health benefits, 36% of small firms and 64% of large firms offer disease management programs. These programs aim to improve health and reduce costs for enrollees with certain chronic illnesses by educating them about their disease and suggesting treatment options.

Check out the KFF 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey to stay updated on the latest employer-sponsored coverage trends and help employers recruit and retain workers with quality plans that employees value. Contact us today to develop tailored benefits solutions that address your clients’ needs.

KFF 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey

Questions?
Contact The Answer Team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

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