Health benefits in 2007: premium increases fall to an eight-year low, while offer rates and enrollment remain stable.
This paper reports findings from a survey of 1,997 public and private employers with three or more workers, conducted during the first five months of 2007. Premiums increased 6.1 percent from spring 2006 to spring 2007--the lowest rate of increase since 1999. Enrollment in different types of health plans did not change significantly, and high-deductible health plans with a savings option did not experience major growth in enrollment. Despite the comparatively modest increase in premiums during a period of strong economic growth, the percentage of workers obtaining coverage from their employer remained statistically unchanged.
Claxton
Gary
G
Health Care Marketplace Project, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Washington, DC, USA. gclaxton@kff.org
Gabel
Jon
J
DiJulio
Bianca
B
Pickreign
Jeremy
J
Whitmore
Heidi
H
Finder
Benjamin
B
Jacobs
Paul
P
Hawkins
Samantha
S
D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000639:trends*; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007250:Inflation, Economic; D020402:Medical Savings Accounts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States