STAT+: Workers are paying 9% more for family health coverage this year, a higher jump than in the recent past — SkimNews
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- KFF released its 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey showing average worker contributions for family coverage rose 9% to $7,471, a sharper increase than the 6% and 7% rises in prior years
- Workers at small businesses faced higher premium increases than those at larger firms, according to KFF’s analysis of the 2026 data
- Health care costs are climbing overall, driving premium increases, though employers have absorbed most of the additional expense so far
- KFF's survey is regarded as the gold-standard measure of employer-sponsored health insurance trends in the U.S.
Why it matters: The 9% premium hike outpaces recent years and inflation, straining household budgets—especially for small-business employees who saw larger increases—while signaling that even with employers absorbing most cost growth, pressure on workers is intensifying.
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