Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, for this invitation to testify today on the current status of employer health insurance coverage in the United States. My comments will focus on trends in enrollment, the share of employers offering health insurance to workers, the costs of insurance and health care for people who are enrolled in the plans, and policy options to improve workers’ coverage.
Employer Health Insurance Is the Backbone of the U.S. Health Insurance System
Employer health insurance continues to be the primary source of insurance coverage for the majority of the U.S. population. More than half the population under age 65 — about 163 million people — get their health insurance through an employer, either their own or a family member’s (Exhibit 1).
