Employer Health Insurance Costs Rise 5 Percent as Workers Report Wider Budget Strain

The average cost of a family health plan through an employer rose 5 percent to more than $28,000 this year, according to the annual Employer Benefits Survey from KFF, released Thursday. About 157 million Americans get health insurance through work. Small businesses and their employees were reported to be hit especially hard, while another account called the price increase moderate but said workers still name health costs a top concern. Separately, Stacy Eichel of Florida lost her marketing job at a healthcare company after a merger in September 2025. She said her side business making custom-branded merchandise is shrinking as companies tighten budgets amid tariff uncertainty and growing use of artificial intelligence.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. NPR, on the left, focuses on workers squeezed by health costs even with good job-based insurance and calls the rise moderate. Among alternative outlets, The Hill stresses spiking costs, especially for small businesses, citing the KFF survey, while Al Jazeera frames rising costs and tight budgets ahead of the midterm elections through Eichel's experience.