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Workers' health premium costs rise despite job-based coverage, surveys show

KFF and Commonwealth Fund surveys find rising premiums, skipped care and medical debt among covered workers.

Updated Oct 22, 2026 · 12:14 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • About 157 million Americans have job-based coverage, and covered workers averaged $7,471 toward family premiums this year.[NPR · Associated Press]
  • KFF reports the average family premium at $28,000, with the worker-paid portion up 9%.[NPR]
  • Workers at small firms contribute more, averaging $9,687 toward family coverage versus $6,840 at firms with 200 or more workers.[Associated Press]
  • A Commonwealth Fund survey found about 43% of covered workers skipped care over cost, and about 31% reported medical debt.[NPR]

Key facts

  • About 157 million Americans get health insurance through their jobs.[NPR]
  • KFF reports the average family health insurance premium is $28,000.[NPR]
  • Family health insurance premiums rose 5% this year, and the portion paid by workers rose 9%.[NPR]
  • Covered workers averaged $7,471 a year toward family premiums this year, up roughly 9% from last year, according to a KFF study.[Associated Press]
  • Covered workers at smaller firms contributed an average of $9,687 toward family coverage in 2026, compared with $6,840 at firms with 200 or more workers.[Associated Press]
  • About 43% of covered workers said they skipped care because of cost in the past year, and about 31% reported medical debt.[NPR]
  • The overall uninsured rate rose over the last two years.[NPR]

What remains uncertain

  • The cost and coverage figures are survey-based estimates from KFF and the Commonwealth Fund and have not been independently verified here.[NPR · Associated Press]
  • Reported average worker contributions differ between sources, at about $7,000 in one report and $7,471 in another.[NPR · Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.