Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 6.1 percent in 2007, less than the  7.7 percent increase reported last year but still higher than the increase in workers’ wages (3.7 percent) or the overall inflation rate (2.6 percent), according to the 2007 Employer Health Benefits Survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust.

"Despite seeing the lowest rate of increase in eight years, the cost of health insurance is still more than double the rate of overall inflation.  Coupled with other costs that are constantly rising and causing a strain on the average worker, the rising cost of health care still haunts workers like a dark cloud.  Unfortunately, all too often the burden of affordability of health insurance falls on the most vulnerable population, the lower wage workers and small firm employees.  For many of these workers, the decision to take part in their employer’s health plan is based solely on cost.  Many of these workers, especially those with families, just cannot afford the rising cost of insurance despite how minimal the increase might be.  Because cost is primary in most of these workers’ decisions, many of them simply cannot afford to stay insured.  So ultimately, when the worker cannot afford insurance, the worker and his family are forced to join the millions already in the ranks of the uninsured."   Mary A. Pittman

Materials from the September 11th Survey Release

 Press Release

2007 Annual Survey

 Summary of Findings
 Chart Pack

Full Report

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