Costs for Family Health Insurance Rise

9/2/2010

Health insurance statistics from two organizations showed that premiums for family coverage increase this year.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust, workers are paying an average of almost $4,000 this year to provide health insurance coverage to their families. That marks a $482 increase, or 14 percent, over 2009's costs.

The rise comes despite the fact that premiums for family health insurance rose only 3 percent this year. However, the two groups found that the amount employers contribute did not increase.

"With the economy struggling, businesses have been shifting more of the costs of health insurance to workers through premiums, deductibles and other cost-sharing," said Kaiser president and chief executive officer Drew Altman.

However, changes may come about for some people in the following years as provisions from the Affordable Care Act take effect. For example, younger people will be able to stay on a parent's health insurance plan until they are 26.

The new law does stipulate that the expanded coverage for younger people does not apply if their employer offers them a health insurance plan.

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