Is inflation really easing? Well, for health care, not so much. This marks the second year in a row that employer-sponsored health insurance premiums are up 7% to reach an average of $25,572 annually, according to KFF's annual survey, 2024 KFF Employer Health Benefit Survey. Premiums jumped 7% — the biggest increase the survey reported since 2011 – in 2024, same as last year.

The survey of 2,142 employers examines trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, wellness programs and employer practices. On average, employees contributed $6,296 towards the cost of family coverage, while the employer contribution was $19,276. Premiums for individual coverage was $8,951 in 2024.

"Employers are shelling out the equivalent of buying an economy car for every worker every year to pay for family coverage," KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said. "In the tight labor market in recent years, they have not been able to continue offloading costs onto workers who are already struggling with health care bills."