Twenty-nine percent of all firms offering health coverage and 65% of all large firms (200 or more workers), increased the amount that workers pay for health insurance in 2003.

This year, 47% of firms say they are very or somewhat likely to increase the amount employees pay for health insurance in the next year.

A very significant proportion of large firms (200 or more employees) continue to report that they will increase the amount workers pay in the future. Of these larger firms, 79% say that they are somewhat or very likely to increase the amount that employees pay next year.

Thirty-one percent of all firms and 47% of large firms (200 or more workers) report that they increased the amount employees paid for prescription drugs in 2003.

Thirty-eight percent of all firms say they are very or somewhat likely to raise employee costs for prescription drugs next year and nearly six in ten (56%) large firms say they will increase employees’ share of prescription costs.

Approximately one-quarter of firms (24%) report that they increased employee deductibles or office visit copayments in 2002. Looking to next year, about 39% of all firms, report that they are “very” or “somewhat” likely to increase deductibles. Thirty-seven percent of all firms report that they are very or somewhat likely to increase office visit copays or coinsurance.

Few firms say they are very or somewhat likely to restrict employee eligibility for coverage or drop coverage entirely. Seven percent of firms suggest they might drop coverage in the future.