Workers who get health insurance through their jobs are facing rising costs, according to reporting by NPR, The New York Times and The Hill, which each describe new surveys on the issue.
NPR reported that about 157 million Americans get their health insurance through work. Citing a survey of employers, NPR's report by Selena Simmons-Duffin said there is a moderate price uptick this year, and it reported that workers still say health costs are a top concern.
In a separate report, The Hill, in a story by Nathaniel Weixel, said a survey released Thursday, the annual Employer Health Benefits Survey from KFF, found that costs are spiking for the millions of Americans who rely on workplace-sponsored coverage. According to The Hill, the average cost of a family plan rose 5 percent and topped $28,000 this year, with small businesses and their employees hit especially hard.
NPR and The Hill describe the increase differently. NPR called it a moderate uptick, while The Hill said costs are spiking. The available reporting does not say whether NPR's survey of employers is the same survey The Hill cited.
In a report by Reed Abelson, The New York Times said new surveys show that increases in premiums and deductibles are forcing people to forgo treatments or doctor's visits. According to the Times, budgets are strained at the same time by higher food and gas prices.
All three reports focus on workers who get coverage through an employer, a group NPR placed at about 157 million Americans. The Times and The Hill each describe the strain on workers and small businesses, while NPR's account centers on the concern workers continue to express about health costs.
Sources: NPR: High health costs squeeze workers, even if you have good insurance through a job; The New York Times: Employers Shift Rising Health Care Costs Onto Millions of Workers; The Hill: Workers hit hard by rising employer health insurance costs.