US family health premiums jump 9% as uninsured rate rises

· Health · United States

A KFF survey finds that US workers are paying about 9% more for family health coverage this year, a steeper increase than in recent years, as rising healthcare costs squeeze both employers and employees. The same survey shows the number of working-age US adults without health insurance rose in 2026, and that half of all uninsured people did not seek needed care because of cost concerns. The findings point to affordability, rather than access alone, as the central pressure in the US insurance market. For employers, the premium jump adds to compensation costs; for providers and insurers, it signals more cost-sensitive patients and possibly more uncompensated care.

Why it matters：Premium growth and rising uninsurance shape demand, payer mix and pricing power across insurers, hospitals and employers, making affordability the industry's central commercial question.

Key points

  • Family coverage costs workers about 9% more this year, per KFF.
  • Working-age adults without insurance increased in 2026.
  • Half of uninsured people skipped needed care over cost.

Sources (original reporting)

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