> Finally, note the disparity between individual and family plans. Employers are offering 2.5x more benefit—nearly $9,000 more—to workers with families.
Interestingly, my employer discloses the full premium that they pay to the health insurer every year. As an employee without a partner/dependents (I just graduated college/started my career), my employer spends ~$17k/year less on my health/dental/vision benefits than employees with a partner/dependents.
That effective pay difference makes me mildly salty.
It's an interesting topic, particularly as it relates to employers being women/family-friendly. How do you feel about parental leave, for instance?
Of course, this is a benefit that's within your control: just get a partner/dependent! And the flip side is that even individual employees might value knowing that the company "has your back" as your family situation changes.
Or, more bluntly, your company has to offer disparate benefits, because other employers do, and no employee with a family would work for your company otherwise.
Of course, all this masks the REAL problem that employers and healthcare are so intertwined. Even this article puts some of the blame on employers, when really it's the healthcare companies and the overall rising cost of care.
Interestingly, my employer discloses the full premium that they pay to the health insurer every year. As an employee without a partner/dependents (I just graduated college/started my career), my employer spends ~$17k/year less on my health/dental/vision benefits than employees with a partner/dependents.
That effective pay difference makes me mildly salty.