The number of small and large firms offering dental benefits as part of their health insurance benefits has increased significantly since 2000, according to the new 2014 Employer Health Benefits annual survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust. The survey was released on Wednesday.
In 2000, only 30% of small firms (those with three to 199 workers) offered their employees dental benefits, the survey found; that number now stands at 52%. Among large firms (those with 200 or more employees), 88% currently offer dental benefits. However, overall, only 53% of firms offer dental benefits.
| Percentage of firms offering dental benefits by size, region | |
| Separate dental benefits | |
| All firms | 53% |
| Firm size | |
| 200-999 workers | 88% |
| 1,000-4,999 workers | 91% |
| 5,000 or more workers | 91% |
| All small firms (3-199 workers) | 52% |
| All large firms (200 or more workers) | 88% |
| Region | |
| Northeast | 46% |
| Midwest | 60% |
| South | 59% |
| West | 45% |
| Percentage of firms offering dental benefits, 2000-2014 | |||||||
| 2000 | 2003 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | |
| All small firms (3-199 workers) | 30% | 37% | 49% | 42% | 45% | 53% | 52% |
| All large firms (200 or more workers) | 60% | 78% | 79% | 81% | 87% | 89% | 88% |
| All firms | 31% | 38% | 50% | 43% | 46% | 54% | 53% |
Overall benefits
For all healthcare benefits, average annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage increased to $16,834 this year, up 3% from last year. Workers, on average, pay $4,823 annually toward the cost of family coverage in 2014. This continued a recent trend of modest increases, the survey's authors reported.
Premiums increased more slowly over the past five years than in the preceding five years (26% versus 34%), and the changes were well below the annual double-digit increases recorded in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This year's increase is similar to the year-to-year rise in worker's wages (2.3%) and general inflation (2%), they wrote.
Family premiums have increased almost 70% since 2004 and have more than doubled since 2002, the authors noted. Interestingly, average family premiums for workers in small firms ($15,849) are significantly lower than average family premiums for workers in larger firms ($17,265).
For "worker-only" coverage, annual premiums are $6,025 this year, on average. Workers are contributing approximately $1,081 toward the cost of worker-only coverage in 2014.
Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman, PhD, said in a statement that while the slow growth in premiums is positive news, the cost of deductibles is still a concern.
"The relatively slow growth in premiums this year is good news for employers and workers, though many workers now pay more when they get sick as deductibles continue to rise and skin-in-the-game insurance gradually becomes the norm," Altman said.
More information on the survey is available here.
