Private health insurance
This page is outside of Ballotpedia's current coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. If you would like to help our coverage grow, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
For private insurance, consumers typically either receive coverage through their employer or buy it on their own through the individual market. As healthcare costs have increased, so have insurance premiums. Between 2000 and 2014, insurance premiums for employer-sponsored plans, including state and local government plans, increased by 144 percent for single coverage and 161 percent for family coverage. However, the rate of increase has slowed in more recent years. Between 2000 and 2007, premiums grew by 81 percent for single coverage and 88 percent for family coverage. Between 2007 and 2014, the rates of increase were 34.5 percent and 39 percent, respectively.[1]
Employers have reacted to these costs in a number of ways, one of which has been to shift more responsibility for premium contributions to their employees. The portion of premiums paid by employees for single coverage has increased by four percentage points, from 14 percent to 18 percent, since 2000, and by three percentage points, from 26 percent to 29 percent, for family coverage. Average deductibles for employees have also risen, doubling from $584 to $1,135 between 2006 and 2013.[1][2]
The table below displays information on average annual premiums for single and family health insurance plans obtained through employment in 2013. For single coverage, the lowest average premiums were found in Arkansas at $4,536 per year, while the highest average premiums were in Alaska at $7,369 per year. For family plans, Alabama had the lowest average premiums at $13,477 per year. Alaska also had the highest premiums for family plans at an average of $20,715 per year.[3][4]
| Average annual premiums for private employer-based insurance, 2013 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Single | Family | |||||
| Employee contribution | Employer contribution | Total | Employee contribution | Employer contribution | Total | ||
| Alabama | $1,379 | $3,825 | $5,204 | $3,791 | $9,686 | $13,477 | |
| Alaska | $1,078 | $6,291 | $7,369 | $4,759 | $15,956 | $20,715 | |
| Arizona | $1,078 | $4,265 | $5,343 | $4,774 | $10,409 | $15,183 | |
| Arkansas | $956 | $3,580 | $4,536 | $3,951 | $9,565 | $13,516 | |
| California | $1,091 | $4,490 | $5,581 | $4,518 | $12,173 | $16,691 | |
| Colorado | $1,162 | $4,506 | $5,668 | $4,327 | $12,309 | $16,636 | |
| Connecticut | $1,502 | $4,500 | $6,002 | $5,522 | $11,352 | $16,874 | |
| Delaware | $1,427 | $4,507 | $5,934 | $4,958 | $11,144 | $16,102 | |
| District of Columbia | $1,171 | $4,847 | $6,018 | $5,159 | $12,103 | $17,262 | |
| Florida | $1,408 | $3,975 | $5,383 | $5,653 | $10,417 | $16,070 | |
| Georgia | $1,219 | $4,155 | $5,374 | $4,435 | $10,327 | $14,762 | |
| Hawaii | $431 | $4,672 | $5,103 | $3,131 | $11,251 | $14,382 | |
| Idaho | $975 | $4,044 | $5,019 | $3,598 | $10,438 | $14,036 | |
| Illinois | $1,301 | $4,523 | $5,824 | $4,478 | $12,450 | $16,928 | |
| Indiana | $1,134 | $4,965 | $6,099 | $4,300 | $11,424 | $15,724 | |
| Iowa | $1,197 | $4,010 | $5,207 | $4,047 | $10,368 | $14,415 | |
| Kansas | $1,081 | $4,351 | $5,432 | $4,164 | $11,494 | $15,658 | |
| Kentucky | $1,215 | $4,042 | $5,257 | $3,898 | $11,565 | $15,463 | |
| Louisiana | $1,214 | $4,086 | $5,300 | $4,604 | $10,944 | $15,548 | |
| Maine | $1,119 | $4,746 | $5,865 | $4,766 | $11,566 | $16,332 | |
| Maryland | $1,308 | $4,422 | $5,730 | $4,512 | $11,308 | $15,820 | |
| Massachusetts | $1,646 | $4,644 | $6,290 | $4,570 | $12,854 | $17,424 | |
| Michigan | $1,152 | $4,167 | $5,319 | $3,968 | $11,274 | $15,242 | |
| Minnesota | $1,232 | $4,042 | $5,274 | $4,210 | $10,610 | $14,820 | |
| Mississippi | $1,097 | $3,864 | $4,961 | $4,376 | $9,677 | $14,053 | |
| Missouri | $1,036 | $4,406 | $5,442 | $4,455 | $10,705 | $15,160 | |
| Montana | $882 | $4,772 | $5,654 | $3,495 | $11,657 | $15,152 | |
| Nebraska | $1,164 | $4,104 | $5,268 | $4,476 | $10,140 | $14,616 | |
| Nevada | $1,302 | $3,866 | $5,168 | $4,556 | $10,126 | $14,682 | |
| New Hampshire | $1,415 | $4,834 | $6,249 | $4,592 | $12,432 | $17,024 | |
| New Jersey | $1,254 | $4,946 | $6,200 | $4,486 | $12,910 | $17,396 | |
| New Mexico | $1,117 | $4,133 | $5,250 | $4,009 | $11,198 | $15,207 | |
| New York | $1,291 | $4,865 | $6,156 | $4,232 | $13,298 | $17,530 | |
| North Carolina | $1,064 | $4,154 | $5,218 | $4,685 | $10,338 | $15,023 | |
| North Dakota | $970 | $4,360 | $5,330 | $3,842 | $11,153 | $14,995 | |
| Ohio | $1,053 | $4,626 | $5,679 | $3,631 | $12,324 | $15,955 | |
| Oklahoma | $1,062 | $4,067 | $5,129 | $5,015 | $10,091 | $15,106 | |
| Oregon | $804 | $4,645 | $5,449 | $4,327 | $11,529 | $15,856 | |
| Pennsylvania | $1,074 | $4,508 | $5,582 | $4,017 | $12,002 | $16,019 | |
| Rhode Island | $1,401 | $4,567 | $5,968 | $4,245 | $11,832 | $16,077 | |
| South Carolina | $1,137 | $4,289 | $5,426 | $4,482 | $11,024 | $15,506 | |
| South Dakota | $1,347 | $4,529 | $5,876 | $4,905 | $10,875 | $15,780 | |
| Tennessee | $1,167 | $3,979 | $5,146 | $4,361 | $10,853 | $15,214 | |
| Texas | $1,135 | $4,251 | $5,386 | $4,892 | $11,157 | $16,049 | |
| Utah | $1,089 | $4,220 | $5,309 | $3,609 | $11,732 | $15,341 | |
| Vermont | $1,170 | $4,594 | $5,764 | $4,340 | $11,971 | $16,311 | |
| Virginia | $1,244 | $4,164 | $5,408 | $4,889 | $11,028 | $15,917 | |
| Washington | $680 | $5,010 | $5,690 | $3,930 | $11,791 | $15,721 | |
| West Virginia | $1,052 | $4,888 | $5,940 | $2,931 | $14,174 | $17,105 | |
| Wisconsin | $1,220 | $4,510 | $5,730 | $3,897 | $12,768 | $16,665 | |
| Wyoming | $1,059 | $5,242 | $6,301 | $3,812 | $13,318 | $17,130 | |
| United States | $1,170 | $4,401 | $5,571 | $4,421 | $11,608 | $16,029 | |
| Note: "Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding." Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts" | |||||||
Private health insurance by percentage
The table below provides similar information to the table above, but does so by percentage. Click [show] to display the table. Clicking on the column headings will sort the data.
| Average annual premiums for private employer-based insurance, 2013 (percentages) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Single | Family | |||||
| Employee contribution | Employer contribution | Total | Employee contribution | Employer contribution | Total | ||
| Alabama | 26.5% | 73.5% | 100% | 28.1% | 71.9% | 100% | |
| Alaska | 14.6% | 85.4% | 100% | 23% | 77% | 100% | |
| Arizona | 20.2% | 79.8% | 100% | 31.4% | 68.6% | 100% | |
| Arkansas | 21.1% | 78.9% | 100% | 29.2% | 70.8% | 100% | |
| California | 19.5% | 80.5% | 100% | 27.1% | 72.9% | 100% | |
| Colorado | 20.5% | 79.5% | 100% | 26% | 74% | 100% | |
| Connecticut | 25% | 75% | 100% | 32.7% | 67.3% | 100% | |
| Delaware | 24% | 76% | 100% | 30.8% | 69.2% | 100% | |
| District of Columbia | 19.5% | 80.5% | 100% | 29.9% | 70.1% | 100% | |
| Florida | 26.2% | 73.8% | 100% | 35.2% | 64.8% | 100% | |
| Georgia | 22.7% | 77.3% | 100% | 30% | 70% | 100% | |
| Hawaii | 8.4% | 91.6% | 100% | 21.8% | 78.2% | 100% | |
| Idaho | 19.4% | 80.6% | 100% | 25.6% | 74.4% | 100% | |
| Illinois | 22.3% | 77.7% | 100% | 26.5% | 73.5% | 100% | |
| Indiana | 18.6% | 81.4% | 100% | 27.3% | 72.7% | 100% | |
| Iowa | 23% | 77% | 100% | 28.1% | 71.9% | 100% | |
| Kansas | 19.9% | 80.1% | 100% | 26.6% | 73.4% | 100% | |
| Kentucky | 23.1% | 76.9% | 100% | 25.2% | 74.8% | 100% | |
| Louisiana | 22.9% | 77.1% | 100% | 29.6% | 70.4% | 100% | |
| Maine | 19.1% | 80.9% | 100% | 29.2% | 70.8% | 100% | |
| Maryland | 22.8% | 77.2% | 100% | 28.5% | 71.5% | 100% | |
| Massachusetts | 26.2% | 73.8% | 100% | 26.2% | 73.8% | 100% | |
| Michigan | 21.7% | 78.3% | 100% | 26% | 74% | 100% | |
| Minnesota | 23.4% | 76.6% | 100% | 28.4% | 71.6% | 100% | |
| Mississippi | 22.1% | 77.9% | 100% | 31.1% | 68.9% | 100% | |
| Missouri | 19% | 81% | 100% | 29.4% | 70.6% | 100% | |
| Montana | 15.6% | 84.4% | 100% | 23.1% | 76.9% | 100% | |
| Nebraska | 22.1% | 77.9% | 100% | 30.6% | 69.4% | 100% | |
| Nevada | 25.2% | 74.8% | 100% | 31% | 69% | 100% | |
| New Hampshire | 22.6% | 77.4% | 100% | 27% | 73% | 100% | |
| New Jersey | 20.2% | 79.8% | 100% | 25.8% | 74.2% | 100% | |
| New Mexico | 21.3% | 78.7% | 100% | 26.4% | 73.6% | 100% | |
| New York | 21% | 79% | 100% | 24.1% | 75.9% | 100% | |
| North Carolina | 20.4% | 79.6% | 100% | 31.2% | 68.8% | 100% | |
| North Dakota | 18.2% | 81.8% | 100% | 25.6% | 74.4% | 100% | |
| Ohio | 18.5% | 81.5% | 100% | 22.8% | 77.2% | 100% | |
| Oklahoma | 20.7% | 79.3% | 100% | 33.2% | 66.8% | 100% | |
| Oregon | 14.8% | 85.2% | 100% | 27.3% | 72.7% | 100% | |
| Pennsylvania | 19.2% | 80.8% | 100% | 25.1% | 74.9% | 100% | |
| Rhode Island | 23.5% | 76.5% | 100% | 26.4% | 73.6% | 100% | |
| South Carolina | 21% | 79% | 100% | 28.9% | 71.1% | 100% | |
| South Dakota | 22.9% | 77.1% | 100% | 31.1% | 68.9% | 100% | |
| Tennessee | 22.7% | 77.3% | 100% | 28.7% | 71.3% | 100% | |
| Texas | 21.1% | 78.9% | 100% | 30.5% | 69.5% | 100% | |
| Utah | 20.5% | 79.5% | 100% | 23.5% | 76.5% | 100% | |
| Vermont | 20.3% | 79.7% | 100% | 26.6% | 73.4% | 100% | |
| Virginia | 23% | 77% | 100% | 30.7% | 69.3% | 100% | |
| Washington | 12% | 88% | 100% | 25% | 75% | 100% | |
| West Virginia | 17.7% | 82.3% | 100% | 17.1% | 82.9% | 100% | |
| Wisconsin | 21.3% | 78.7% | 100% | 23.4% | 76.6% | 100% | |
| Wyoming | 16.8% | 83.2% | 100% | 22.3% | 77.7% | 100% | |
| United States | 21% | 79% | 100% | 27.6% | 72.4% | 100% | |
| Note: Percentages calculated by Ballotpedia. Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts" | |||||||
Private health insurance competitiveness
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation measured the competitiveness of the private health insurance market in 2013, using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) as an indicator. The HHI takes into account how much of a market is controlled by each of the companies competing within it (market share) and is expressed in a value between zero and 10,000. The lower the number, the more competitive the market. The foundation performed an HHI analysis for the individual, small group and large group insurance markets in each state; its results are shown in the chart below. The data also includes information on the market share of the largest insurer in each state, as well as the number of insurers with a market share of greater than five percent.[5][6][7][8]
- In the individual insurance market, Wisconsin, Colorado and Oregon had the most competitive insurance markets. Rhode Island, Alabama and Vermont had the least competitive insurance markets.
- In the small group market, Wisconsin, Oregon and Arizona had the most competitive markets, while Alabama, North Dakota and Mississippi had the least competitive.
- In the large group market, Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania had the most competitive markets. North Dakota, South Dakota and Alabama had the least competitive markets.
For further analysis of this data, consult the table below. Click [show] on the red bar to view the table. Click on the headings to sort the data.
| Health insurance market competition, 2013 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Individual | Small group | Large group | ||||||
| HHI* | Market share of largest insurer | Insurers with >5% market share | HHI* | Market share of largest insurer | Insurers with >5% market share | HHI* | Market share of largest insurer | Insurers with >5% market share | |
| Alabama | 8,250 | 91% | 2 | 9,483 | 97% | 1 | 8,375 | 91% | 1 |
| Alaska | 4,176 | 62% | 5 | 4,509 | 65% | 3 | 7,199 | 84% | 2 |
| Arizona | 3,236 | 50% | 5 | 1,928 | 23% | 5 | 2,431 | 32% | 5 |
| Arkansas | 6,223 | 78% | 3 | 4,794 | 65% | 3 | 6,180 | 77% | 3 |
| California | 3,021 | 48% | 4 | 2,139 | 31% | 5 | 2,591 | 44% | 5 |
| Colorado | 1,792 | 33% | 7 | 2,223 | 29% | 5 | 2,997 | 47% | 4 |
| Connecticut | 2,858 | 40% | 4 | 2,829 | 40% | 4 | 2,249 | 34% | 5 |
| Delaware | 3,760 | 53% | 3 | 4,965 | 59% | 2 | 4,216 | 49% | 3 |
| District of Columbia | 5,348 | 71% | 3 | 6,767 | 81% | 2 | 2,496 | 34% | 4 |
| Florida | 2,731 | 47% | 5 | 2,804 | 35% | 5 | 3,182 | 51% | 5 |
| Georgia | 2,465 | 36% | 3 | 2,278 | 28% | 4 | 2,512 | 42% | 5 |
| Hawaii | 4,929 | 50% | 2 | 3,262 | 48% | 4 | 5,559 | 71% | 2 |
| Idaho | 3,498 | 50% | 3 | 3,614 | 49% | 3 | 5,112 | 67% | 2 |
| Illinois | 4,757 | 68% | 3 | 4,031 | 60% | 4 | 5,574 | 73% | 3 |
| Indiana | 3,888 | 59% | 3 | 3,568 | 56% | 3 | 4,038 | 60% | 3 |
| Iowa | 7,128 | 84% | 3 | 4,726 | 64% | 3 | 5,964 | 76% | 3 |
| Kansas | 2,479 | 39% | 4 | 4,501 | 64% | 4 | 3,045 | 45% | 4 |
| Kentucky | 6,455 | 79% | 2 | 5,021 | 67% | 3 | 4,696 | 66% | 4 |
| Louisiana | 5,483 | 73% | 3 | 6,666 | 81% | 3 | 4,363 | 63% | 4 |
| Maine | 4,268 | 55% | 3 | 3,458 | 40% | 3 | 5,587 | 73% | 4 |
| Maryland | 5,193 | 70% | 3 | 5,118 | 68% | 3 | 4,791 | 67% | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 2,496 | 38% | 5 | 2,624 | 41% | 5 | 3,587 | 56% | 4 |
| Michigan | 3,234 | 53% | 3 | 3,871 | 59% | 3 | 3,139 | 51% | 4 |
| Minnesota | 3,872 | 57% | 4 | 3,036 | 38% | 4 | 3,317 | 45% | 3 |
| Mississippi | 4,092 | 60% | 3 | 7,329 | 85% | 2 | 6,944 | 82% | 2 |
| Missouri | 2,116 | 34% | 5 | 3,135 | 49% | 4 | 2,455 | 35% | 4 |
| Montana | 2,781 | 36% | 4 | 3,081 | 46% | 4 | 4,574 | 60% | 2 |
| Nebraska | 5,299 | 71% | 3 | 4,466 | 63% | 3 | 6,879 | 82% | 3 |
| Nevada | 3,423 | 46% | 3 | 2,286 | 34% | 5 | 4,635 | 66% | 4 |
| New Hampshire | 7,046 | 83% | 3 | 5,846 | 73% | 2 | 4,181 | 57% | 3 |
| New Jersey | 6,169 | 77% | 3 | 3,841 | 57% | 4 | 3,486 | 54% | 4 |
| New Mexico | 3,924 | 49% | 2 | 2,763 | 33% | 4 | 3,141 | 40% | 4 |
| New York | 2,271 | 33% | 4 | 2,649 | 47% | 5 | 1,702 | 23% | 4 |
| North Carolina | 7,379 | 86% | 2 | 4,532 | 62% | 3 | 5,414 | 72% | 3 |
| North Dakota | 6,602 | 80% | 3 | 7,419 | 85% | 2 | 9,394 | 97% | 1 |
| Ohio | 2,623 | 35% | 3 | 2,468 | 38% | 5 | 2,293 | 39% | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 4,405 | 64% | 4 | 4,164 | 60% | 4 | 3,470 | 54% | 5 |
| Oregon | 1,779 | 31% | 7 | 1,521 | 23% | 6 | 2,537 | 41% | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,116 | 34% | 5 | 2,014 | 31% | 5 | 1,996 | 33% | 6 |
| Rhode Island | 8,680 | 93% | 2 | 5,796 | 73% | 2 | 5,969 | 76% | 2 |
| South Carolina | 3,943 | 59% | 3 | 5,597 | 73% | 4 | 8,459 | 92% | 1 |
| South Dakota | 5,640 | 74% | 3 | 4,003 | 58% | 3 | 3,987 | 59% | 4 |
| Tennessee | 2,830 | 42% | 4 | 4,953 | 67% | 3 | 5,597 | 74% | 3 |
| Texas | 3,808 | 59% | 4 | 3,133 | 48% | 4 | 2,797 | 44% | 5 |
| Utah | 2,894 | 40% | 4 | 2,602 | 40% | 4 | 3,114 | 45% | 4 |
| Vermont | 8,040 | 89% | 2 | 6,165 | 74% | 2 | 6,500 | 79% | 3 |
| Virginia | 5,672 | 74% | 3 | 2,759 | 45% | 5 | 2,539 | 44% | 6 |
| Washington | 3,200 | 39% | 3 | 2,415 | 37% | 5 | 2,617 | 31% | 3 |
| West Virginia | 4,347 | 62% | 3 | 5,498 | 70% | 2 | 7,196 | 84% | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 1,479 | 23% | 6 | 1,443 | 31% | 7 | 871 | 14% | 9 |
| Wyoming | 2,055 | 38% | 5 | 4,116 | 60% | 3 | 5,974 | 76% | 3 |
| United States | 3,888 | 55% | 3 | 3,841 | 57% | 4 | 4,038 | 57% | 4 |
| * "The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is a measure of how evenly market share is distributed across insurers in the market. HHI values range from 0 to 10,000, with an HHI closer to zero indicating a more competitive market and closer to 10,000 indicating a less competitive market. An HHI index below 1,000 generally indicates a highly competitive market; an HHI between 1,000 and 1,500 indicates an unconcentrated market; a score between 1,500 and 2,500 indicates moderate concentration; and a value above 2,500 indicates a highly concentrated (uncompetitive) market." Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts" | |||||||||
Healthcare policy in the 50 states
Click on a state below to read more about healthcare policy in that state.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Employee Health Benefits: 2014 Annual Survey," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "FAQ: How Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Is Changing," September 17, 2013
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Average Single Premium per Enrolled Employee For Employer-Based Health Insurance," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Average Family Premium per Enrolled Employee For Employer-Based Health Insurance," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Individual Insurance Market Competition," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Small Group Insurance Market Competition," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Large Group Insurance Market Competition," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ Investopedia, "Herfindahl-Hirschman Index - HHI," accessed August 6, 2015
