Employee Health Benefit Costs Average $10,588 In 2012, Up 4.1% From 2011

The total cost of employee health benefits averaged $10,558 per employee in 2012. The cost is 4.1% higher than the 2011 per employee cost of $10,125. The 4.1% increase actually represents a lower level of cost growth than between 2011 and 2010 when the costs increased by 6.1%. The slowing cost growth was attributed to employer strategies to reduce costs by offering high deductible health plans (HDHPs) instead of traditional plans. HDHPs, such as consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) that link a HDHP with a health savings account, have lower coverage costs because the covered . . .