Gallup Data Shows Decline in Employer-Sponsored Coverage

March 7, 2013

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 2012 shows that the number of people getting health insurance coverage through their employer has declined almost 5% since 2008 from 49.2% to 44.5%. At the same time, those receiving coverage through a government-based health plan (Medicare, Medicaid, military) increased from 23.4% in 2008 to 25.6% in 2012.

The survey reports that 16.9% get coverage through "something else," which could mean they purchase it themselves while 11.1% report they are uninsured.

Gallup attributes the decrease in employer-sponsored coverage to high unemployment, as well as fewer employers offering health insurance or employees not opting for employers' plans because of rising premium costs for employees.

The majority of workers not in a government job continue to get their health insurance from their employer, but the 56.8% who did so in 2012 is down from a high of 64.2% in 2008. At the same time, the percentage of part-time workers who have coverage through employers has risen from 29.8% in 2008 to 32.5% in 2012.

In the past year, the only subgroup to show an increase in employer-based insurance is young adults age 18-25 because they are now eligible for coverage on their parents' plans, moving from 31.1% in 2011 to 32.4% in 2012.