Rising Health Insurance Costs Strain American Workers, New KFF Survey Reveals

A recent survey conducted by the healthcare research nonprofit KFF indicates that individuals dependent on employer-sponsored health insurance are facing higher costs this year. The 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released on Thursday, highlights that employees, especially those at small businesses with 10 to 99 workers, are experiencing significant premium increases.

On average, covered workers are contributing approximately $7,471 annually towards premiums for employer-sponsored family health benefits, reflecting a rise of about 9% or $621 from the previous year. This trend has raised concerns regarding affordability, particularly for small firms that employ around 62.3 million people in the private sector. The survey reveals that employees at smaller firms typically pay a larger share of their premiums, contributing an average of 37% for family coverage compared to 25% at larger companies.