Workers hit hard by rising employer health insurance costs

Costs are spiking for the millions of Americans who rely on workplace-sponsored health insurance, according to a survey released Thursday, with small businesses and their employees being hit especially hard. 

The average cost of a family plan increased by 5 percent, topping $28,000 this year, according to the annual Employer Health Benefits Survey from KFF. Employers cover a lot of that, but the share that comes from workers’ paychecks is increasing. 

Workers are paying $7,471 annually toward the premiums for employer-sponsored family health benefits this year on average, $621 more than in 2025 — a 9 percent increase. 

Overall, the average deductible for U.S. workers is approaching $2,000 before insurance kicks in, according to the survey. 

The increase hits particularly hard for employees at small firms with fewer than 200 workers. On average, those employees contributed $9,687 annually toward family coverage this year. That’s $2,847 more than workers in firms........

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