Expanding Health Care Coverage

By

NORC at the University of Chicago

Funding Area

Expanding Health Care Coverage

Date

November 1, 2010

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This NYHealth-supported survey of more than 800 public and private employers, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago between late 2009 and early 2010, reveals trends in New York State over time and compares New York State employers to employers nationwide. The analysis finds that the proportion of workers in New York State with employer-sponsored heath insurance has fallen dramatically over the last decade, to 58% from 69% in 2001, and now lags the national average (65%).

The percentage of firms in New York State that offer health coverage has remained steady at 70% over time. However, employers have tightened eligibility for coverage, shifted more costs to workers, and limited coverage choices, and fewer employees are now taking up the coverage that is offered to them.

The cost of health insurance is a crippling expense for some businesses and is having adverse consequences for economic growth in the State. While the majority of firms surveyed believe that offering health care coverage “is the right thing to do,” 66% of firms surveyed reported that they are struggling “a great deal” or “somewhat” to afford health insurance.