How Much Does Employer Health Coverage Cost in 2026?
KFF’s 2026 survey puts the average annual premium at $9,804 for single coverage and $28,303 for family coverage. Workers contribute an average of $1,672 for single and $7,471 for family coverage. Milliman’s 2026 index projects $37,824 for a family of four covered by an average employer plan.
What the 2026 surveys report
The charts show how the family premium splits and how deductibles differ by firm size.
Premiums
KFF reports average premiums of $9,804 for single coverage and $28,303 for family coverage, with the family premium up 5 percent.
What workers pay
Workers contribute $1,672 for single and $7,471 for family coverage on average, about 26 percent of the family premium.
Total cost of care
Milliman’s 2026 index projects $37,824 for a family of four, up 7.2 percent, or $8,460 per person, up 7.9 percent. It measures total cost of care, which includes what employees pay.
How to use the averages
An average is a reference point. Your cost depends on size, plan and location.
Small firms differ
KFF finds the average single deductible is $2,624 at firms with 10 to 199 workers against $1,772 at larger firms, and 55 percent of small-firm workers face a deductible of $2,000 or more versus 33 percent.
Michigan compared
Michigan’s 2025 family premium was $23,800 against $26,281 nationally. Read the state numbers as a snapshot.
Your own cost
Use the cost tools to see what your own package costs by benefit and by employee.
2027 market outlook questions.
Is the average premium what my company pays?
No. The KFF premium is the employer and worker share together, and it varies with firm size, plan type and location.
Why does Milliman’s number differ from KFF’s?
Milliman estimates the total cost of care for a family of four, while KFF measures premiums for employer-sponsored coverage. They are different measures of different things.
Do these averages apply to small employers?
KFF defines small firms as 10 to 199 workers, so its small-firm figures include companies larger than many Michigan small groups.
Where the figures come from.
KFF 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey Milliman 2026 Medical Index
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