The percentage of the premium paid by workers with health insurance remains similar to the percentages reported in 2006 for both single and family coverage.¹ In terms of dollar amounts, the average worker contribution increased for both single and family coverage from 2006 to 2007.

• In 2007, covered workers on average contribute 16% of the premium for single coverage and 28% of the premium for family coverage (Exhibit 6.1). These percentages have remained stable over the last several years.
  
  
• The average monthly worker contribution increased for both single and family coverage in 2007.
  
• • On average, workers with single coverage contribute $58 and workers with family coverage contribute $273 towards their health insurance premiums; the amounts are higher than the $52 and $248 reported in 2006 (Exhibit 6.2).
    
    
  • Annually, the average worker contribution is $694 for single coverage and $3,281 for family coverage (Exhibit 6.3). For single coverage, workers in small firms (3-199 workers) contribute an annual amount of $561, which is significantly less than the $759 contributed by workers in large firms (200 or more workers) (Exhibit 6.4). In contrast, workers with family coverage in small firms contribute significantly more than workers with family coverage in large firms, at $4,236 and $2,831, respectively (Exhibit 6.5).
    
    
  • Workers enrolled in HDHP/SOs for single coverage contribute a lower amount annually ($522) than the overall average worker contribution. The difference between the average contribution for those enrolled in HDHP/SOs for family coverage and the overall average family contribution is not statistically different (Exhibit 6.6).
    
    
• The majority of covered workers are employed by a firm that contributes at least half of the premium.
  
• • About three in four workers contribute more than 0% but less than or equal to 50% of their premiums for both single and family coverage (77% and 78%, respectively). Two percent of workers with single coverage and 15% of workers with family coverage contribute more than 50% of their premiums (Exhibit 6.9).
    
    
  • Twenty percent of workers with single coverage and 6% of workers with family coverage work for a firm that pays 100% of the premium (Exhibit 6.9).
    
    
  • Like last year, covered workers in small firms (3-199 workers) are more likely to work for a firm that pays 100% of the premium than workers in large firms (200 or more workers). In small firms, 44% of covered workers have an employer that pays the full premium for single coverage, compared to 9% of covered workers in large firms (Exhibit 6.10). For family coverage, 13% percent of covered workers in small firms have an employer that pays the full premium for family coverage, compared to 3% of covered workers in large firms (Exhibit 6.11).
    
    
  • For those workers who are responsible for a portion of the premium, covered workers in small firms (3-199 workers) are more likely to have to pay more than 50% of the premium than workers in large firms (200 or more workers). For single coverage, 4% of workers in small firms contribute more than 50% of the premium, compared to 2% in large firms (Exhibit 6.10). The disparity is greater for family coverage with 37% of workers in small firms contributing more than 50% of the premium, compared to 5% in large firms (Exhibit 6.11).
    
    
• The percentage of the premium paid by covered workers varies by several firm characteristics.
  
• • For family coverage, workers in firms with a higher proportion of lower-wage workers (where 35% or more earn $21,000 or less annually) contribute a greater percentage of the premium than those in firms with a lower proportion of lower-wage workers (where fewer than 35% earn $21,000 or less annually) (34% vs. 27%) (Exhibit 6.13).
    
    
  • For the first time, the survey asked each firm about the proportion of younger employees. In firms with less than 35% of employees age 26 or less, workers contribute 16% for single coverage and 27% for family coverage, compared to workers in firms with 35% or more employees age 26 or less who contribute 22% for single coverage and 35% for family coverage (Exhibit 6.12 and Exhibit 6.13).
    
    
• Some workers are employed by firms that vary premium contributions by workers’ wages or participation in wellness programs.
  
• • Ten percent of covered workers are in firms that vary worker premium contributions by wage level, the same percentage as in 2005 when the question was last asked. Workers in large firms (200 or more workers) are more likely to be employed by a firm that varies contributions by wage than workers in small firms (3-199 workers) (14% vs. 2%). Workers in the Northeast are more likely (18%) to have their firm vary contributions by wage than workers in other regions; workers in the West are less likely (5%), compared to workers in other regions (Exhibit 6.18).
    
    
  • Six percent of covered workers are employed by a firm that varies worker premium contribution levels by participation in a wellness program, up from the 3% reported in 2005. Covered workers in large firms (200 or more workers) are more likely than workers in small firms (3-199 workers) to work for an employer that varies employee contributions for participation in wellness programs (9% vs. 1%) (Exhibit 6.18).

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