A newly-released survey found that annual premiums for employer-provided family healthcare plans have risen once again. Annual premiums for these types of plans rose 5% in 2019, bringing the cost up to $20,576, according to the yearly poll done by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. Of that total cost, employees are responsible for approximately $6,015, which is an 8% increase over the previous year, leaving employers paying over $14,500 in health care premiums over the course of the year for each individual employee’s family health plan. For an individual employer plan, which many employers cover in full, the average total premium cost was $7,188 in the 2019 survey.
While employers cover the majority of premium costs for their employees, that doesn’t include additional employee costs like co-payments, deductibles, prescriptions and other out-of-pocket medical expenses. Many of these expenses have increased much more rapidly than wages, leaving employees extremely frustrated with their employer-sponsored health coverage options despite employers’ attempts to keep costs low.
The survey also noted that organizations with a large amount of lower-wage workers passed more of the premium costs onto the employees themselves, leaving many of their employees with no other choice than to go without healthcare entirely. Health care affordability is on the mind of California legislators, as they move towards their proposed statewide individual mandate, which aims to ensure all California residents maintain health coverage for themselves, their spouses and dependents.
California employers who are looking to keep healthcare costs low for themselves and their employers may want to consider partnering with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). A PEO package like Emplicity’s PrimeHR™, allows even small businesses to benefit from the lower costs of large-group platforms and relieves employers of confusing administration tasks, allowing them the peace of mind to focus on growing their business.
About Emplicity:
Since 1995, Emplicity has provided a smarter, more secure, and integrated platform of employer services to its 300 business clients and their 8,500 employees. As a Professional Employer Organization, or PEO, the California-based HR outsourcing firm simplifies the compliance, administration, and support businesses need in the areas of employee benefits, payroll, and human resources technology.
For more information about us, visit www.emplicity.com or call us at (877) 476-2339. We’d love to make your employee management more simple—and secure.
NOTICE: Emplicity provides HR advice and recommendations. Information provided by Emplicity is not intended as a substitute for employment law counsel. At no time will Emplicity have the authority or right to make decisions on behalf of its clients.