Study: Survey shows continued decline in employer-based insurance

A new survey from The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Education Trust confirms that the number of people with employer-based health insurance is falling rapidly. Sixty percent of firms offered coverage to workers in 2005, down significantly from 69 percent in 2000 and 66 percent in 2003. The drop stems almost entirely from fewer small businesses offering health benefits, as nearly all businesses with 200 or more workers offer such benefits. This survey confirms a number of recent studies that find as the cost of premiums rise, more smaller employers are dropping coverage, especially for their low wage employees.

- see this press release from KFF

PLUS: A study of high-deductible health plans in Health Affairs finds that one-in-three employers offering a high-deductible health plan that is HSA-qualified do not contribute to HSAs established by their workers. Abstract