Trends in Rhode Island Employer-Provided Health Care Benefits

Consistent with the declining economy, the trends of employer-provided health care benefits have been in decline.  According to the results from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training's Benefits Survey, employer provided access to health care benefits for Rhode Island full-time workers has decreased from 79% in 2005 and 2007 to 73% in 2009 and 2011.  Moreover, the percentage of employers offering health benefits to part-time workers has decreased from 18% in 2005 to 13% in 2011.


According to the Survey, smaller companies (employers with less than 20 employees) are less likely to to offer health insurance to their full-time employees than larger companies.  The share of small employers who offer health insurance has declined from 75% in 2007 to 65% in 2011.

The percentage of employers who pay 100% of their employees' health insurance premiums has declined as well.  As recently as 2009, 25% of Rhode Island employers paid the full cost of health care premiums for the family plans offered to their full-time workers.  However, in 2011 the survey revealed that less than 15% of employers now pay full costs associated with a family plan.


Monthly premiums for health insurance in Rhode Island have increased for both family and individual plans.  Employers reported the monthly costs associated with the individual plan offered to their workers increased from $424 in 2007 to $520 in 2011.