Health Care Costs

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2011 Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey

The average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2011 are $5,429 for single coverage and $15,073 for family coverage. Compared to 2010, premiums for single coverage are 8% higher and premiums for family coverage are 9% higher. The 9% growth rate in family premiums for 2011 is significantly higher than the 3% growth rate in 2010.

More on Health Care Costs from KFF

Insurer Rebates under the Medical Loss Ratio: 2012 Estimates
April 26, 2012
Beginning in 2011, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance plans to pay out a minimum percentage of premium dollars towards health care expenses and quality improvement activities, limiting the amount spent on administrative and marketing costs and profit. Under the law, large group plans are required to spend at least 85 percent of premium dollars on health care and quality improvement, while small group plans must spend at least 80 percent. These ratios are known as the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR). This analysis looks at the latest estimates provided by insurers to state insurance commissioners.
Patient Cost-Sharing Under the Affordable Care Act
April 23, 2012
This data note provides estimates of the potential cost-sharing levels for plans that will be available in the non-group market (including in new health insurance exchanges) when the ACA is fully implemented in 2014. It builds on previous work from Kaiser and reflects recent guidance from the federal government on benefits and cost-sharing for plans offered in those markets.
Pulling It Together: The Falloff in Utilization: "There's Something Happening, Here, What It Is Ain't Exactly Clear"
April 16, 2012
In his latest column, Kaiser Family Foundation President Drew Altman looks at the falloff in utilization of health services.
Federal Funding Under the Affordable Care Act
April 12, 2012
This fact sheet provides highlights from an analysis tracking the flow of federal Affordable Care Act funds to states as reporter in the Department of Health and Human Services grant database as well as periodic reports from HHS and the Internal Revenue Service.
Tracking Federal Funds from the Affordable Care Act
April 12, 2012
This tool allows users to track funds awarded by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to a variety of governmental and private entities. This funding will go to states, local governments, employers, community health groups and health care providers to implement various provisions aimed at transforming areas of the existing health system and making health insurance coverage more affordable.

From Official Documents

HHS Final Rule on Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Under the ACA May 11, 2012
Final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services on the Medical Loss Ratio requirements under the Affordable Care Act. The final rule "amends the regulations implementing medical loss ratio (MLR) standards for health insurance issuers under the Public Health Service Act in order to establish notice requirements for issuers in the group and individual markets that meet or exceed the applicable MLR standard in the 2011 MLR reporting year." The rule "establishes a simple, straightforward notice requirement for health insurance issuers that meet or exceed the MLR standards established by the Affordable Care Act, but only requires the notice for the 2011 MLR reporting year, the first year that the MLR rules are in effect, and does not require issuers to include information about the current or prior year MLR. The notice will direct enrollees to the HHS Web site for specific information about issuers’ MLRs."
CCIIO Medical Loss Ratio Rebate Notice Instructions May 11, 2012
Instructions from the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight on the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebate notices that insurers must issue to policyholders. The "instructions provide directions as to who must be sent a Notice, the timing of the Notice, completing the attached model Notices, and methods for providing Notice." Additionally, the guidance provides "three model Notices, each one designed for policyholders and subscribers in different situations."