The percentage of small firms (3-199 workers) offering health insurance is 65%, statistically unchanged from last year. (Exhibit 2.2).
The likelihood that a firm offers health benefits to its workers varies considerably ith the economic and demographic characteristics of the firm, such as firm size, the proportion of part-time workers in the firm, and firms with union workers (Exhibit 2.3).
The smallest firms are least likely to offer health insurance. Only 55% of firms with 3-9 workers offered coverage in 2003, but that figure rises to 76% for firms with 10-24 employees and 84% for companies with 25-49 employees. Among firms with 50 or more employees, nearly all offer coverage (Exhibit 2.2).
Firms with many part-time workers - where 35% or more of employees work part-time - are also less likely to provide coverage to their workers. Among these heavily part-time firms, only 32% offer health insurance, in contrast to 70% of firms with fewer part-time workers.
Firms that employ union workers are significantly more likely than other firms to offer coverage to their workers, with 91% offering coverage. In contrast, only 60% of firms that do not have union employees offer health insurance to their workers.
