(NewsNation) — The average annual cost of employer-provided health insurance for an entire family rose by 7% this year to an average of $25,572, according to a new survey. Of that, workers contribute an average of $6,296, or about a quarter of the total cost.
The 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey, conducted by the health policy organization KFF, shows that employers are paying more for employees’ health insurance while workers’ contributions have remained fairly flat over the past five years.
“Employers are shelling out the equivalent of buying an economy car for every worker every year to pay for family coverage,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a news release.
“In the tight labor market in recent years, they have not been able to continue offloading costs onto workers who are already struggling with health care bills,” he added.
One major sign of the times in this new survey: Just 18% of the large employers (at least 200 workers) surveyed offer coverage for weight-loss drugs. Fifty-two percent say they don’t cover medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Of the companies that do cover weight-loss drugs, 53% attach conditions to the coverage, such as consulting with a dietician or other health care professional or taking part in a formal weight-loss program either before or while taking the drugs.
Among the survey’s other findings:
- 27% say they offer IVF and artificial insemination
- 37% say they cover fertility medications
- 8% say their health plans don’t cover legal abortions under any circumstances
- 18% say they cover abortions in limited circumstances
- 48% say they have added mental health resources
