Annual family premiums (money paid out of your paycheck to cover health insurance) will average about $25,572 in 2024, according to a new report released by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization. I found out that it takes.
This is on top of a 7% increase from the previous year. On average, employees receive approximately $6,296 in plan coverage.
“One of the big factors driving this cost increase is just the impact of inflation over the past few years,” Matthew Ray, associate director of KFF’s Healthcare Marketplace Program, told Scripps News. told. For these products, many of the prices are set in advance, so the effects of inflation take a long time to be reflected in the health insurance premiums we pay. ”
About one in five employers covers expensive and popular diabetes and obesity GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which can cause severe weight loss.
But “among those that do, they impose a lot of restrictions and requirements on what coverage you need. See a dietitian. They may ask for BMI,” Ray said. Said.
Mental health benefits continue to be a challenge for employers. About a quarter of employers surveyed by KFF said their network of mental health and substance abuse plans was “somewhat” or “very” narrow.
Many large companies report using third-party vendors and employee assistance programs such as Headspace and Lyra Health.
“There has been an incredible demand for mental health care services in recent years, but we don’t have the workforce to provide the care we need,” Ray said.
12% of large companies surveyed offer additional compensation or benefits to employees who take out their spouse’s health insurance, and 13% give extra compensation or benefits if the employee does not have company health insurance. provided compensation and benefits.
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