Premium increases slowing down: ADP

While average monthly health plan premiums have increased 15% since 2010, to $870, new data from ADP show the rate of increase is slowing down. After a sharp increase of 6.9% from 2010 to 2011, the rate of increase was just 1.7% between 2013 and 2014.

Employer share of contributions to health premiums, meanwhile, declined slightly for all groups from 2010 to 2014, regardless of age or number of dependents. The largest decrease was 1.5% for those with dependents. For those with no dependents, the decrease was 1.0%. Employer contribution decreased across all age groups according to the report's findings.

Other findings from the 2014 ADP Annual Health Benefits Report include:

  • Between 2010 and 2014, the percentage of full-time employees who were eligible for employer-provided health benefits remained relatively steady at an average of 90%.
  • The overall percentage of those participating in health benefits also remained relatively constant at an average of 68%. However, the averages do not reflect the marked variances among specific age groups, where participation rose among baby boomers as they continue to work into their later years, and participation declined among younger employees.
  • 73% of employees aged 50-59 eligible to participate in their health plan did so. In all groups 40 and older, participation was over 70% in 2014. In comparison, among employees under age 30, just over half participated in their employer's health benefits program in 2014. In this group the take rate declined 7.6% between 2010 and 2014.
  • In 2014, of the 20 states analyzed, New Jersey had the highest monthly premium, $999, and Georgia had the lowest, $807. New York had the largest percentage of employer contributions at 78%. In Georgia, Missouri and New York, average premiums actually declined in the past year.
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