This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including changes in premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, and other relevant information. The survey continued to document the prevalence of high-deductible health plans associated with a savings option and included new questions on the wellness programs and retiree health benefits offered by employers. The 2008 survey included 2,832 randomly selected public and private firms with three or more employees (1,927 of which responded to the full survey and 905 of which responded to an additional question about offering coverage). Researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and Health Research & Educational Trust designed and analyzed the survey.

News Release

Full Report (.pdf)

Summary of Findings (.pdf)

Chart Pack (.pdf)

Additional Presentation Slides (.pdf)

Health Affairs article (NOTE: To get free access, you must left click on the link, and not open it in a new window.)

Health Benefits in 2008: Premiums Moderately Higher, While Enrollment in Consumer-Directed Plans Grows in Small Firms

Full Article | Abstract

Archive of All Employer Health Benefits Surveys

The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust have conducted this annual survey since 1999. The archives of the Employer Health Benefits Survey include these surveys and a small business supplement of the 1998 survey conducted by the Foundation.