Health & wellness · 51 figures

Health Insurance Cost Statistics 2026

The average U.S. employer family health insurance premium reached $28,303 in 2026, with workers paying $7,471 of it, and single coverage cost $9,804, according to KFF. The average single deductible was $1,955 (KFF), the average ACA marketplace premium was $178 a month after tax credits (CMS), and total U.S. health spending reached $5.3 trillion, or $15,474 per person, in 2024 (CMS). Employers expect costs to rise another 8.2% to 9.5% in 2027 (Mercer, Aon).

Download CSV Cite this pageUpdated November 6, 2026 · 15 sources

$28,303The average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage in the U.S. reached $28,303 in 2026, 5% higher than in 2025, according to KFF.KFF
$7,471Covered workers contributed an average of $7,471 a year toward family coverage in 2026, according to KFF.KFF
$1,955Among covered workers with a general annual deductible, the average single deductible was $1,955 in 2026, according to KFF.KFF
$178The average monthly marketplace premium in 2026 was $619 before advance premium tax credits and $178 after, per CMS.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
$3,786The average ACA marketplace deductible rose 37%, or $1,027 per person, to a record $3,786 in 2026, according to KFF.KFF
$15,474U.S. national health expenditure grew 7.2% to $5.3 trillion in 2024, or $15,474 per person, according to CMS.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
8.2%U.S. employers expect total health benefit cost per employee to rise 8.2% on average in 2027, the highest increase since 2003, according to Mercer's survey of over 1,800 employers.Mercer
46%46% of U.S. working-age adults were inadequately insured in 2026: uninsured, with a coverage gap, or underinsured, per the Commonwealth Fund.The Commonwealth Fund

This page collects 51 figures on what health insurance costs in the United States: employer premiums for single and family coverage, the share workers pay, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, ACA marketplace premiums, national health spending, and employer cost projections for 2027. Most figures describe 2025 and 2026; federal survey data (AHRQ MEPS-IC, CMS national health accounts) run a year or two behind and cover 2024. Every figure links to the publisher that produced it, with the exact sentence we quote.

KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey puts the average family premium at $28,303 and single coverage at $9,804, both up 5% in a year. AHRQ's MEPS-IC, which surveys a far larger sample of private establishments including very small ones, reports lower 2024 averages of $24,540 for family and $8,486 for single coverage. The two surveys differ in sample and year, so use KFF for the latest level and MEPS-IC for long-run and state comparisons. Milliman's Medical Index adds out-of-pocket costs and reaches $37,824 for a family of four in 2026.

The worker share of premiums has stayed close to 18% for single and 27% for family coverage in KFF's data, but dollar contributions keep rising with premiums, to $7,471 for family coverage in 2026. Firm size matters most: workers at firms with 10 to 199 employees paid $9,687 for family coverage on average. Deductibles move the cost further toward people who use care, with 38% of covered workers facing a single deductible of $2,000 or more.

The ACA marketplace changed sharply in 2026 after the enhanced premium tax credits ended. CMS counted 23.1 million plan selections and an average premium after tax credits of $178 a month, up from $113. Many enrollees moved from silver to bronze plans, which KFF links to a record average marketplace deductible of $3,786. The Commonwealth Fund finds marketplace and individual coverage among working-age adults fell to 6.4% while their uninsured rate rose to 11.2%.

At the national level CMS reports $5.3 trillion of health spending in 2024, 18.0% of GDP, with private health insurance the largest payer at $1,644.6 billion. Employer surveys from Mercer, Aon and Business Group on Health all project 2027 cost growth of roughly 8% to 9.5%, the fastest in more than a decade, with pharmacy and GLP-1 drugs named as leading drivers.

Employer health insurance premiums

Employer premiums kept climbing about 5% a year into 2026. KFF puts the average family premium at $28,303 and single coverage at $9,804, and over five years family premiums rose slightly faster than wages. AHRQ's MEPS-IC, a much larger federal establishment survey, reports lower 2024 averages because it covers all private employers, including the smallest. Milliman measures something wider still: the total cost of care for a family of four, including out-of-pocket spending, which reached $37,824 in 2026.

Average private-sector premium by coverage tier, 2024

Average annual total premium per enrolled employee, U.S. private-sector establishments, 2024, MEPS-IC.

$8,486

$16,931

$24,540

SingleEmployee plus oneFamily

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54)

$28,303
The average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage in the U.S. reached $28,303 in 2026, 5% higher than in 2025, according to KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $28,303 this year, 5% higher than in 2025.
$9,804
The average annual premium for single employer coverage was $9,804 in 2026, per KFF's survey of firms with 10 or more workers.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2026 are $9,804 for single coverage and $28,303 for family coverage.
28%
Average family premiums rose 28% from 2021 to 2026, compared with 26.9% wage growth and 24.4% inflation over the same five years, according to KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
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Over the last five years, the average premium for family coverage has increased by 28%, compared with a 26.9% increase in workers’ wages and inflation of 24.4%
$24,540
Across all U.S. private-sector employers, the average family premium was $24,540 in 2024, up 2.5% from 2023, according to AHRQ's MEPS-IC.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54) (Dec 2025)
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In 2024, average health insurance premiums were $8,486 for single coverage, $16,931 for employee-plus-one coverage, and $24,540 for family coverage, representing increases of 3.7, 4.9 and 2.5 percent, respectively, from 2023.
$8,486
The average private-sector single premium was $8,486 in 2024, a 3.7% increase from 2023, per AHRQ's MEPS-IC.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54) (Dec 2025)
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In 2024, average health insurance premiums were $8,486 for single coverage, $16,931 for employee-plus-one coverage and $24,540 for family coverage, representing increases of 3.7, 4.9, and 2.5 percent, respectively, relative to 2023
$37,824
Total annual healthcare costs for a typical U.S. family of four with employer coverage reached $37,824 in 2026, according to the Milliman Medical Index.
Milliman · 2026 Milliman Medical Index (May 2026)
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For 2026, the MMI projects these costs will be: $37,824 for a family of four
$8,460
Milliman estimates employer-sponsored healthcare costs grew 7.9% between 2025 and 2026, from $7,838 to $8,460 for the average person.
Milliman · 2026 Milliman Medical Index (May 2026)
Exact quote
Between 2025 and 2026, we estimate that employer-sponsored healthcare costs will grow by 7.9%, from $7,838 to $8,460 for the average person.
14.8%
Pharmacy was the fastest-growing component of employer healthcare costs in 2026, rising 14.8% year over year per person, according to Milliman.
Milliman · 2026 Milliman Medical Index (May 2026)
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Pharmacy is the fastest-growing cost component of the MMI in 2026, rising 14.8% year-over-year for the average person.

What workers pay toward premiums

Workers usually pay a fixed share of the premium through payroll, so rising premiums pass straight into paychecks. KFF finds covered workers paid $7,471 a year for family coverage in 2026, and far more at small firms, where the average family contribution was $9,687. AHRQ shows employee contributions for single coverage rose faster than premiums in 2024. Aon's data from large employers show companies still carry about 82% of plan cost, while BLS reminds us that a large share of private-sector workers either lack access to a plan or do not enroll.

Share of premium paid by covered workers, 2026

Average worker contribution as a share of the total premium, U.S. firms with 10 or more workers, 2026.

Single coverage, all firms18%
Family coverage, all firms27%
Family coverage, firms with 10 to 199 workers37%
Family coverage, firms with 200+ workers25%

Source: KFF, 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey

$7,471
Covered workers contributed an average of $7,471 a year toward family coverage in 2026, according to KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
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The average annual contribution amounts for covered workers are $1,672 for single coverage and $7,471 for family coverage, both higher than last year.
$1,672
The average worker contribution for single employer coverage was $1,672 in 2026, per KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The average annual contribution amounts for covered workers are $1,672 for single coverage and $7,471 for family coverage, both higher than last year.
27%
Covered workers paid 27% of the family premium and 18% of the single premium on average in 2026, according to KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
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On average, covered workers contribute 18% of the premium for single coverage and 27% of the premium for family coverage, similar to the percentages contributed in 2025.
$9,687
At firms with 10 to 199 workers, the average worker contribution for family coverage was $9,687 in 2026, versus $6,840 at larger firms, per KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The average contribution amount for family coverage for covered workers at smaller firms ($9,687) is higher than the amount for covered workers at larger firms ($6,840)
$1,789
Private-sector employee contributions for single coverage rose 9.1% in 2024 to $1,789, according to AHRQ's MEPS-IC.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54) (Dec 2025)
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Average employee contributions in 2024 increased from the previous year by 9.1 percent for single coverage ($1,789) and 5.2 percent for employee-plus-one coverage ($4,707).
82%
Employers paid about 82% of total health plan cost on average in 2026, based on Aon's data from more than 1,100 U.S. employers.
Aon · Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Continue Multi-Year Climb, Projected to Rise 9.5% in 2027 (Aug 2026)
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On average, employers are responsible for about 82% of the plan cost, reflecting ongoing efforts to limit the financial impact on employees.
$5,300
Aon estimates the average U.S. employee will spend nearly $5,300 on health care in 2026, counting paycheck premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Aon · Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Continue Multi-Year Climb, Projected to Rise 9.5% in 2027 (Aug 2026)
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The average employee is expected to spend nearly $5,300 on health care in 2026, reflecting continued pressure on household budgets
46%
In March 2026, 71% of U.S. private industry workers had access to employer medical care plans and 46% participated, according to BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2026 (Sep 2026)
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Seventy-one percent of private industry workers had access to medical care plans and 46 percent of workers participated.

Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs

Deductibles are where cost growth shows up for people who use care. KFF's 2026 average single deductible of $1,955 is only for workers whose plan has one, and nearly 4 in 10 covered workers now face a deductible of $2,000 or more. AHRQ's MEPS-IC average is higher at $2,085 because it weights small employers more heavily. IRS limits for 2027 set the floor for high-deductible plans paired with health savings accounts. At the national level, CMS counts more than half a trillion dollars of out-of-pocket spending a year.

$1,955
Among covered workers with a general annual deductible, the average single deductible was $1,955 in 2026, according to KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Among covered workers in a plan with a general annual deductible in 2026, the average deductible amount is $1,955, similar to the amount last year.
55%
55% of covered workers at firms with 10 to 199 workers had a single-coverage deductible of $2,000 or more in 2026, versus 33% at larger firms and 38% across all firms, per KFF.
KFF · 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Thirty-eight percent of covered workers in 2026 are in a plan with a general annual deductible of $2,000 or more for single coverage, similar to the percentage (34%) last year. Over half (55%) of covered workers in smaller firms are in such a plan, compared with 33% of covered workers in larger firms
$2,085
The average private-sector single deductible rose 8.0% to $2,085 in 2024, according to AHRQ's MEPS-IC.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54) (Dec 2025)
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Average deductibles for single plans increased by 8.0 percent to $2,085 and average family deductibles increased by 8.8 percent to $4,063 from 2023 to 2024.
$4,063
The average private-sector family deductible rose 8.8% to $4,063 in 2024, per AHRQ's MEPS-IC.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54) (Dec 2025)
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Average deductibles for single plans increased by 8.0 percent to $2,085 and average family deductibles increased by 8.8 percent to $4,063 from 2023 to 2024.
$4,500
For 2027, the IRS caps health savings account contributions at $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
Internal Revenue Service · Revenue Procedure 2026-24: 2027 inflation-adjusted amounts for HSAs and HDHPs (May 2026)
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For calendar year 2027, the annual limitation on deductions under section 223(b)(2)(A) for an individual with self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan is $4,500.
$1,750
An HSA-qualified high-deductible plan in 2027 must have a deductible of at least $1,750 for self-only coverage or $3,500 for family coverage, per the IRS.
Internal Revenue Service · Revenue Procedure 2026-24: 2027 inflation-adjusted amounts for HSAs and HDHPs (May 2026)
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For calendar year 2027, a “high deductible health plan” is defined under section 223(c)(2)(A) as a health plan with an annual deductible that is not less than $1,750 for self-only coverage or $3,500 for family coverage
$556.6 billion
U.S. out-of-pocket health spending grew 5.9% to $556.6 billion in 2024, 11% of national health spending, according to CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
Exact quote
Out of pocket spending grew 5.9% to $556.6 billion in 2024, or 11 percent of total NHE.

ACA marketplace premiums and enrollment

2026 was the first year without the enhanced premium tax credits, and the marketplace data show the effect. CMS reports 23.1 million plan selections, about 5% fewer than in 2025, and an average premium after tax credits of $178 a month. Enrollees moved out of silver plans toward bronze plans, which lowered premiums but raised deductibles: KFF finds the average marketplace deductible hit a record $3,786. Commonwealth Fund survey data show marketplace and individual coverage falling among working-age adults.

23.1 million
23.1 million people selected or were automatically re-enrolled in ACA marketplace coverage during the 2026 open enrollment period, about 1.2 million fewer than in 2025, according to CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (Mar 2026)
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During the 2026 OEP, 23.1 million consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in health insurance coverage through the HealthCare.gov platform and SBEs.
$178
The average monthly marketplace premium in 2026 was $619 before advance premium tax credits and $178 after, per CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (Mar 2026)
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For 2026, the average monthly premium was $619 before the application of APTC and $178 after APTC.
34%
34% of 2026 marketplace consumers selected a plan costing $10 or less per month after tax credits, according to CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (Mar 2026)
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In 2026, 34% of consumers selected a plan for $10 or less per month after APTC.
43%
Silver plans fell from 56% of marketplace plan selections in 2025 to 43% in 2026, as more consumers chose bronze and gold plans, per CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (Mar 2026)
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Compared to the 2025 OEP, a higher percentage of consumers selected bronze and gold plans, and a lower percentage selected silver plans (declining from 56% during the 2025 OEP to 43% for the 2026 OEP).
43%
43% of HealthCare.gov consumers enrolled in HSA-eligible plans in 2026, up from 2% in 2025, after all bronze and catastrophic plans became HSA-eligible, per CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (Mar 2026)
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For 2026, 43% of consumers with plan selections through the HealthCare.gov platform enrolled in HSA-eligible plans.
$3,786
The average ACA marketplace deductible rose 37%, or $1,027 per person, to a record $3,786 in 2026, according to KFF.
KFF · What We Know So Far About 2026 ACA Marketplace Enrollment, Premiums, and Deductibles (May 2026)
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Average ACA Marketplace deductibles increased by 37% (or $1,027 per person) to a record high of $3,786 in 2026.
6.4%
ACA marketplace and individual market coverage among U.S. adults ages 19 to 64 fell from 8.5% in 2024 to 6.4% in 2026, per the Commonwealth Fund.
The Commonwealth Fund · The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey (Oct 2026)
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This statistically significant increase coincided with a statistically significant decline in ACA marketplace and individual market coverage, from 8.5 percent in 2024 to 6.4 percent in 2026.

National health spending

Premiums sit inside a much larger number: total U.S. health spending of $5.3 trillion in 2024, or $15,474 per person, per CMS. Private health insurance is the largest single payer at $1.6 trillion, and it grew faster than Medicare or Medicaid in 2024. CMS projects spending will keep outpacing GDP through 2034. The OECD comparison uses a different accounting basis and slightly different scope, so its GDP share differs from the CMS figure, but both show the U.S. spending far more than peer countries.

U.S. health spending by source of funds, 2024

National health expenditure by payer in billions of U.S. dollars, calendar year 2024.

Private health insurance$1,645
Medicare$1,118
Medicaid$932
Other third party payers and public health$591
Out of pocket$557

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NHE Fact Sheet

$15,474
U.S. national health expenditure grew 7.2% to $5.3 trillion in 2024, or $15,474 per person, according to CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
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NHE grew 7.2% to $5.3 trillion in 2024, or $15,474 per person, and accounted for 18.0% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
$1,644.6 billion
Private health insurance spending in the U.S. grew 8.8% to $1,644.6 billion in 2024, 31% of national health spending, per CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
Exact quote
Private health insurance spending grew 8.8% to $1,644.6 billion in 2024, or 31 percent of total NHE.
28%
Households sponsored 28% of U.S. health spending in 2024 and private businesses 18%, according to CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
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The largest shares of total health spending were sponsored by the federal government (31 percent) and the households (28 percent).
20.6%
CMS projects health spending will rise from 18.0% of U.S. GDP in 2024 to 20.6% in 2034, with average annual growth of 5.4%.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
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Over 2025-34 average NHE growth (5.4 percent) is projected to outpace that of average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth (4.1 percent), resulting in an increase in the health spending share of GDP from 18.0 percent in 2024 to 20.6 percent in 2034.
$467.0 billion
Prescription drug spending in the U.S. increased 7.9% to $467.0 billion in 2024, per CMS.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · NHE Fact Sheet (Jul 2026)
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Prescription drug spending increased 7.9% to $467.0 billion in 2024, slower than the 10.8% growth in 2023.
17.2%
The OECD reports U.S. health spending equal to 17.2% of GDP, against an OECD average of 9.3%, in its 2025 comparison.
OECD · Health at a Glance 2025: United States Country note (Nov 2025)
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This is equal to 17.2% of GDP, compared to 9.3% on average in the OECD.
53.5%
Employment-based insurance covered 53.5% of the U.S. population for some or all of 2025, the most common type of coverage, per the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025 (Sep 2026)
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Of the subtypes of health insurance coverage, employment-based insurance was the most common, covering 53.5 percent of the population for some or all of the calendar year

Cost outlook for 2027

Every major employer survey points to the fastest cost growth in well over a decade. Mercer projects an 8.2% rise in cost per employee for 2027 after planned changes, Business Group on Health a 9.2% median trend before changes, and Aon 9.5% before mitigation. The figures differ in what they measure (trend before or after plan changes) and in who responded, so they are not interchangeable, but the direction is the same. Pharmacy, especially GLP-1 drugs, appears in each publisher's list of drivers.

Employer healthcare cost trend, median, 2026 and 2027

Median projected cost trend reported by 127 large employers, survey fielded June 2026.

8.5%

9.2%

2026 before plan changes2026 after plan changes2027 before plan changes2027 after plan changes

Source: Business Group on Health, Cost Volatility Forces Employers To Reassess Healthcare Strategy, Business Group on Health Survey Reveals

8.2%
U.S. employers expect total health benefit cost per employee to rise 8.2% on average in 2027, the highest increase since 2003, according to Mercer's survey of over 1,800 employers.
Mercer · Employers expect health benefit costs to jump 8.2% in 2027, and the impact will likely be felt by workers (Sep 2026)
Exact quote
the total health benefit cost per employee is expected to rise 8.2% on average in 2027 – the highest increase since 2003 – even after accounting for planned cost-reduction measures.
6.7%
Mercer's average projected increase in employer health benefit cost for 2026 was 6.7%.
Mercer · Employers expect health benefit costs to jump 8.2% in 2027, and the impact will likely be felt by workers (Sep 2026)
Exact quote
This year’s average projected increase was 6.7%.
59%
59% of U.S. employers plan cost-cutting changes to health benefits in 2027, such as higher deductibles, per Mercer.
Mercer · Employers expect health benefit costs to jump 8.2% in 2027, and the impact will likely be felt by workers (Sep 2026)
Exact quote
The survey found that 59% of employers plan to make cost-cutting changes to health benefits in 2027, including plan design changes like higher deductibles that can increase members’ out-of-pocket costs.
9.5%
Aon projects U.S. employer health care costs will rise 9.5% in 2027, pushing the average above $19,000 per employee.
Aon · Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Continue Multi-Year Climb, Projected to Rise 9.5% in 2027 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
U.S. employer health care costs are projected to rise 9.5% in 2027, pushing average costs above $19,000 per employee.
8.8%
Aon reports employer health cost increases more than doubled from 3.7% in 2022 to 8.8% in 2026.
Aon · Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Continue Multi-Year Climb, Projected to Rise 9.5% in 2027 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Employer health care cost increases have more than doubled since 2022, rising from 3.7% to 8.8% in 2026.
9.2%
Large U.S. employers predict a median healthcare cost trend of 9.2% for 2027, or 8% after plan design changes, according to Business Group on Health.
Business Group on Health · Cost Volatility Forces Employers To Reassess Healthcare Strategy, Business Group on Health Survey Reveals (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Employers predicted that healthcare cost trend increases for 2027 will come in at a median of 9.2%, offset to 8% with plan design changes, the Business Group survey showed.
25%
Pharmacy made up 25% of large employers' total healthcare spend, and employer drug costs were estimated to rise 12% in 2026, per Business Group on Health.
Business Group on Health · Cost Volatility Forces Employers To Reassess Healthcare Strategy, Business Group on Health Survey Reveals (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Pharmacy now represents an alarming 25% of employers’ total healthcare spend, and employer drug costs are estimated to rise 12% in 2026, a sharper uptick than overall trend.
60%
The share of large employers covering GLP-1 drugs for obesity fell from 72% in 2025 to 60% in 2026, according to Business Group on Health.
Business Group on Health · Cost Volatility Forces Employers To Reassess Healthcare Strategy, Business Group on Health Survey Reveals (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Fewer employers are covering GLP-1s to treat obesity, with coverage dropping from 72% in 2025 to 60% in 2026.

Coverage gaps and affordability

Cost growth shows up in coverage and in care people skip. The Census Bureau counted 26.7 million uninsured people in 2025, before the marketplace tax credit changes took effect. The Commonwealth Fund's mid-2026 survey of working-age adults finds a higher uninsured rate and a large group with coverage that does not protect them from high costs. The Federal Reserve's household survey adds that about a quarter of adults skipped some medical care because of cost and about a fifth faced an unexpected major medical bill. These surveys use different populations and questions, so compare trends within each source.

Working-age adults inadequately insured, 2026

Share of U.S. adults ages 19 to 64, survey fielded May to July 2026. Categories sum to 46%.

Underinsured23%
Coverage gap during year12%
Uninsured11%

Source: The Commonwealth Fund, The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey

26.7 million
26.7 million people in the U.S., 7.9% of the population, were uninsured for all of 2025, according to the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025 (Sep 2026)
Exact quote
In 2025, 26.7 million people (7.9 percent) were uninsured for the entire year, not statistically different from 2024.
11.2%
The uninsured rate among U.S. adults ages 19 to 64 rose from 8.9% in 2024 to 11.2% in 2026, according to the Commonwealth Fund.
The Commonwealth Fund · The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The uninsured rate for working-age adults increased from 8.9 percent in 2024 to 11.2 percent in 2026.
46%
46% of U.S. working-age adults were inadequately insured in 2026: uninsured, with a coverage gap, or underinsured, per the Commonwealth Fund.
The Commonwealth Fund · The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Nearly half of working-age adults, 46 percent, were inadequately insured in 2026: 11 percent were uninsured, 12 percent had a coverage gap during the year, and 23 percent were underinsured, meaning they had coverage but their plan didn’t provide affordable access to care.
29%
29% of U.S. adults with employer-sponsored insurance were underinsured in 2026, meaning their costs were high relative to income, per the Commonwealth Fund.
The Commonwealth Fund · The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
This includes 29 percent of people with employer-sponsored insurance and half of people in marketplace plans.
21%
21% of U.S. adults had an unexpected major medical expense in the prior 12 months, and 26% skipped medical care because of cost, according to the Federal Reserve's 2025 household survey.
Federal Reserve Board · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Executive Summary (May 2026)
Exact quote
Twenty-six percent of adults skipped medical expenses because of cost in the prior year, down from 28 percent in 2024. Fifty-nine percent of adults had at least one type of major, unexpected expense in the prior 12 months. The most common unexpected expenses were a major vehicle repair or replacement (30 percent of adults), followed by a major house or appliance repair and unexpected major medical expenses (22 percent and 21 percent, respectively).
93%
The OECD reports that 93% of the U.S. population is covered for a core set of health services, below the near-universal coverage of most OECD members.
OECD · Health at a Glance 2025: United States Country note (Nov 2025)
Exact quote
In the United States, 93% of the population is covered for a core set of services.

FAQ

How much does employer health insurance cost in 2026?

KFF reports an average annual premium of $9,804 for single coverage and $28,303 for family coverage in 2026. Workers paid $1,672 and $7,471 of those amounts on average, and employers paid the rest.

What is the average health insurance deductible?

For workers with employer coverage and a general deductible, KFF puts the average single deductible at $1,955 in 2026. AHRQ's MEPS-IC reports $2,085 for single and $4,063 for family plans in 2024. In the ACA marketplace, KFF found an average deductible of $3,786 in 2026.

How much do ACA marketplace plans cost in 2026?

CMS reports an average monthly premium of $619 before tax credits and $178 after tax credits for 2026 plan selections. About 34% of consumers chose a plan costing $10 or less per month after tax credits.

How much will employer health costs rise in 2027?

Mercer projects an 8.2% rise in total health benefit cost per employee after planned changes, Business Group on Health a 9.2% median trend before plan changes, and Aon a 9.5% increase that would push average costs above $19,000 per employee.

How much does the U.S. spend on health care overall?

CMS reports national health expenditure of $5.3 trillion in 2024, or $15,474 per person and 18.0% of GDP. CMS projects the GDP share will reach 20.6% by 2034.

Methodology note

We selected figures from primary publishers: federal agencies (CMS, AHRQ, BLS, Census Bureau, IRS, Federal Reserve), the OECD, research foundations (KFF, Commonwealth Fund) and benefits consultancies and employer groups that ran their own surveys (Mercer, Aon, Milliman, Business Group on Health). Each figure quotes the source sentence verbatim and was rechecked against the live page. Surveys differ in who they cover: KFF samples firms with 10 or more workers, MEPS-IC covers private establishments of all sizes, Aon and Business Group on Health reflect mostly large employers, and the Commonwealth Fund surveys adults ages 19 to 64. Cost projections for 2027 are employer expectations, not actual results. Dollar figures are nominal and not adjusted for inflation. Every quote is re-fetched from the source by our checker. See how we rank and verify.

Sources

1Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Health Insurance Benefits at Private Employers, Estimates from MEPS-Insurance Component: 2008-2024 (Research Findings #54)
2Aon: Aon: U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Continue Multi-Year Climb, Projected to Rise 9.5% in 2027
3Business Group on Health: Cost Volatility Forces Employers To Reassess Healthcare Strategy, Business Group on Health Survey Reveals
4Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: NHE Fact Sheet
5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report
6Federal Reserve Board: Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Executive Summary
7Internal Revenue Service: Revenue Procedure 2026-24: 2027 inflation-adjusted amounts for HSAs and HDHPs
8KFF: 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey
9KFF: What We Know So Far About 2026 ACA Marketplace Enrollment, Premiums, and Deductibles
10Mercer: Employers expect health benefit costs to jump 8.2% in 2027, and the impact will likely be felt by workers
11Milliman: 2026 Milliman Medical Index
12OECD: Health at a Glance 2025: United States Country note
13The Commonwealth Fund: The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey
14U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2026
15U.S. Census Bureau: Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025

Cite this page

Rankozo. (2026, November 6). Health Insurance Cost Statistics 2026. https://rankozo.com/health-insurance-cost-statistics

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