Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4% over the past year, averaging $21,342, according to the benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) 2020 Employer Health Benefits Survey.

Conducted from January to July of this year, the annual survey, whose findings were also published in the journal Health Affairs, polled 1765 nonfederal public and private firms on their employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, wellness programs, and employer practices.

Although it does not capture the full scope of the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on health care costs and coverage, survey results still exhibit the rising cost that employees are responsible for contributing. On average, the study found that workers are paying $,588 in out-of-pocket costs toward family coverage, with employers paying the remaining amount.

“Conducted partly before the pandemic, our survey shows the burden of health costs on workers remains high,