Private Health Insurance: Small Employers Continue to Face Challenges in Providing Coverage

GAO-02-8 United States General Accounting Office Private Health Insurance: Small Employers Continue to Face Challenges in Providing Coverage Small and large employers purchasing health insurance had, on average, comparable premiums in 1998, but this comparison does not fully capture the challenges facing small employers in providing health insurance for their employees. Although the premiums were similar, the health plans offered by small employers were slightly less generous on average, they had slightly higher average cost-sharing requirements for their employees and were somewhat less likely to offer some benefits, excluding, for example, mental health services and chiropractic care . . .