National survey: Employees paying larger share of ESI premiums

A new national study from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust found that although annual employer-sponsored insurance premiums increased by just 3 percent this year, employees are being asked to pay 14 percent more of the total cost (Source: “Workers shouldering more of health-care burden,” Akron Beacon Journal, Sept. 2, 2010)

According to the Employer Health Benefits 2010 Annual Survey, the average worker is paying almost $4,000 this year for family coverage, an increase of $482. Total premiums for family coverage increased to $13,770.

The 2010 survey included 3,143 randomly selected public and private firms with three or more employees.