The percentage of U.S. workers enrolled in health plans with an annual deductibles increased significantly over time, according to the latest results from the Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2012, from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
In 2006, 52% of covered workers had a deductible for single coverage, compared with almost three-quarters (72%) this year, the survey shows. “In addition to contributing more toward premiums, covered workers increasingly face higher cost sharing. A larger proportion of workers are required to meet a deductible before using health care services and these deductibles are increasing in size,” the report says. “Covered workers are commonly enrolled in plans with deductibles of a $1,000 or more. ”
“The growth in workers’ contributions and cost sharing may increasingly become a financial strain on some households,” the report concludes.