Employer-Based Health Coverage Rates Falling Across U.S., Study Finds
The percentage of Californians with employer-based health insurance fell from 61.5% in 1999-2000 to 55.3% in 2008-2009, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The study, called "State-Level Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance," examined changes in job-based coverage among non-elderly residents between 1999-2000 and 2008-2009 (Lavelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21). The report was conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota's State Health Access Data Assistance Center (Fung, National Journal, 6/21).
California-Specific Findings
Looking at California, the report found that:
- Although the number of policyholders with employer-sponsored coverage fell by 1.4% between 1999-2000 and 2008-2009, coverage for their dependents dropped by 6.1% during that period;
- Job-based coverage rates among middle-income families fell from 72.7% in 1999-2000 to 66.9% in 2008-2009;
- Employer-based coverage rates among low-income families declined from 30.9% in 1999-2000 to 24.4% in 2008-2009; and
- Premium costs for a single employee with no dependents rose from $2,259 in 1999-2000 to $4,456 in 2008-2009, with the employee share of premium costs rising from $344 to $768 during that time period (San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21).
Nationwide Findings
Looking at national trends, the report found an eight-percentage-point decline between 1999 and 2009 in the rate of U.S. workers who received health benefits at their jobs.
Over the same period, the rate of private employers offering insurance dropped by 3.6 percentage points, while the rate of small businesses -- particularly those with fewer than 50 employees -- offering such benefits dropped by five percentage points (National Journal, 6/21).
According to the researchers, the decline occurred across all income levels, but more than 50% of those who lost coverage were from families with annual incomes of between $44,000 and $88,000 (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 6/20).
Second RWJF Report
Meanwhile, a second RWJF-commissioned report -- prepared by researchers at the Urban Institute -- concluded that the health reform law likely would halt the decline in job-based coverage, mainly because of the introduction of the Small Business Health Options Program and changes to the insurance market (National Journal, 6/21).
According to the report, there likely would be a small increase in coverage offered by businesses with fewer than 50 workers, while coverage rates in businesses with more than 50 employees likely would remain the same (CQ HealthBeat, 6/21). Meanwhile, coverage rates at small businesses with 10 or fewer employees could increase by as much as 14% (National Journal, 6/21).
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