Despite another year of double-digit premium growth, 2003 survey results show that firms, including small firms, continue to offer coverage to their workers at the same rate as last year (Exhibit 2.1). Nearly all large businesses (with 200 or more workers) offer health insurance to their employees. Smaller businesses, especially very small firms or 'mom and pop shops' with 3-9 workers, remain much less likely to offer coverage, with just over one-half of the smallest firms offering health benefits to their workers. As discussed in the section on Survey Design and Methods, revisions in the sample design have increased the level of the offer rate for this year and prior years. Weighting based on Census data this year revises earlier estimates based on the Dun & Bradstreet sample frame which overestimated the influence of small employers (who have a relatively low offer rate) on the total results.
