Agency News and Notes

Job-related health insurance premiums vary widely between States

Health insurance premium costs for job-related family coverage varied by as much as $4,000 a year between the most expensive and least expensive State in 2004, according to new data from the Agency's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

The most expensive average cost for family coverage—$11,742—was in the District of Columbia and the least—$7,800—was in North Dakota. The national average cost for family coverage was $10,006. Health insurance premiums can be paid totally by the employer or by the employee, or the cost can be shared by both parties. Family policies cover employees and eligible family members.

The four other most expensive states for family coverage were New Jersey ($11,425), New Hampshire ($11,156), Connecticut ($11,035), and Maine ($10,823).

The four other least expensive states for family coverage were Arkansas ($8,383), Hawaii ($8,580), Utah ($8,654), and Idaho ($8,908).

For more information, see State Differences in the Cost of Job-Related Health Insurance, 2004, MEPS Statistical Brief #135 and the MEPS Insurance Component Tables on the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov.

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