Workers with family coverage through their jobs now pay an average of $7,471 a year toward their health insurance premiums, up 9%, or $621, from last year. The figure comes from KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Oct. 22. KFF Health News noted that this is a faster jump than the 7.6% rise workers saw from 2024 to 2025.
The total cost of a family plan, counting what employers pay, reached $28,303, up 5%. Workers' share grew faster than the total because many employers shifted more of the bill to employees. Wages rose 3.7% and inflation 2.7% over the same period, so premium contributions outpaced paychecks for many households.
