b' Wordwww.wmimutual.comUNPACKING the2024KFF AnnualEmployer Health Benefits Surveycontinued65.9% (from $41,674 to $69,153) 4and inflation has risen 43.8%. 5Health Benefits by Plan Type: Employees continue to lose ground in their battle to afford even their Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans remained relatively small percentage of health insurance costs. the most common type of plan covering U.S. employees in 2024. These plans are generally viewed as the most Insurance Deductibles:user friendly because they allow members to use any provider they want, but they pay a higher benefit if the According to the KFF survey, the overwhelming majority of workers (87%)member uses a preferred in-network provider. Among are covered under plans that have an annual deductible. This is the amountfirms offering health benefit plans, 48% of all workers the insured must pay before insurance benefits kick in (although there areare covered by a PPO plan. By comparison, only 13% often some benefits like wellness care that are covered on a pre-deductibleof workers are covered under a more restrictive Health basis). In 2024, the average annual deductible for single coverage wasMaintenance Organization (HMO) plan, which gener-$1,787. Similar to other benefit differences between large and smallally limits members to a smaller panel of providers employers, the average deductible for workers who are covered throughand only covers out-of-network providers in the event smaller companies is significantly higher than those who are coveredof an emergency. High-deductible health plans (which through larger companies ($2,575 compared to $1,538) (see, graph 3). are commonly used in conjunction with health savings accounts (HSAs)) may be offered in conjunction with PPO plans or HMO plans (or other types of coverage). Approximately 27% of workers were enrolled in a high-deductible plan with a health savings option(see, graph 4). 4See, ssa.gov/oact/cola/awidevelop.html.5See, in2013dollars.com.50 www.wpma.com / Summer 2025'