Steep climb in cost of employer-based health coverage

Two new data briefs from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show that the average yearly premium for employer-sponsored family coverage climbed from $6,772 to $10,728 between 2000 and 2005. During the same period, the average annual premium cost for single-person coverage increased from $2,655 to $3,991 (Source: "MEPS Statistical Brief #177" and "MEPS Statistical Brief #178 ").

The reports state that in Ohio, 43.9% of private sector employees enrolled in employer-based health plans have single-person coverage, while 16.4% have employee-plus-one coverage and 39.7% have family coverage. In 2005, the total cost of employer-based single-person coverage in Ohio was $3,928, while employee-plus-one coverage cost $7,119 and family coverage cost $10,662. For Ohioans, the average annual contribution toward the health premiums per employee in 2005 was $674 for single-person coverage, $1,358 for employee-plus-one coverage, and $2,220 for family coverage (Source for all preceeding Ohio data is Statistical Brief #177).