KFF Annual Health Benefits Survey Finds Steady Decline in Percentage of Employers Offering Health Benefits

A new KFF survey reports that the percentage of businesses offering health insurance to their workers has declined steadily over the last five years as the cost of providing coverage continues to outpace inflation and wage growth, according to the 2005 Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey released at a briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 14 by Kaiser and Health Research and Educational Trust. The survey finds that three in five firms (60%) offered coverage to workers in 2005, down significantly from 69% in 2000 and 66% in 2003. The drop stems almost entirely from fewer small businesses offering health benefits, as nearly all businesses (98%) with 200 or more workers offer such benefits. Complete results, and an archived webcast of the briefing, are available from the KFF website.