Employer-based coverage is the leading source of health insurance in California as well as nationally. This report of selected findings from the 2012 California Employer Health Benefits Survey provides a snapshot of the employer-based coverage landscape in the lead-up to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. The percentage of employers reporting that they offer coverage continues its decline, with only 60% now offering insurance to employees. More than one-third of surveyed firms said they are increasing the premium cost to their workers in the coming year, and almost one-fourth plan to increase employees' deductibles. 

See the complete report in the interactive viewing pane below or download the PDF at the bottom of the page.

Key findings include:

• The proportion of California employers offering coverage has declined significantly over the last decade, from 71% in 2002 to 60% in 2012.
• Higher offering rates are associated with larger firms, firms with higher wages, and firms with fewer part-time workers.
• Since 2002, premiums in California rose by 169.7%, more than five times the 31.5% increase in the state's overall inflation rate.
• Average monthly premiums for single coverage in California were $545 in 2012, compared to $468 nationally. For family coverage, monthly premiums were $1,386 in California and $1,312 nationally.
• More than one-quarter of workers in small firms had a deductible of $1,000 or more for single coverage in 2012, up from just 7% in 2006. In large firms, only 8% had a deductible of $1,000 or more.
• Twenty-one percent of California firms reported that they increased workers' share of the premium in the preceding year, while 17% reduced benefits or increased cost-sharing.

Due to a delay in getting the data, this survey report has been condensed. A comprehensive version of the 2013 survey will be released in December.

The complete Almanac report is available as a Document Download.