2003 Employee Benefits in Private Industry — 2003-09-17

The proportion of employees covered by employer-sponsored medical care plans has fallen gradually over the last decade. In March 2003, 45 percent of employees had elected coverage, down from 63 percent in 1992-3, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The large majority of employees covered by medical care plans were in plans requiring employee contributions for both single coverage and family coverage. Employee contributions to medical care premiums averaged $228.98 per month for family coverage; for single coverage, employee contributions averaged $60.24 per month. Since 1992-3, the average monthly contribution required of employees has risen about 75 percent for both family and single coverage. Just under half of private industry employees participated in an employer provided retirement plan. Twenty percent of employees were in defined benefit plans and 40 percent were covered by defined contribution plans.