# Workers pay more for family health coverage at smaller firms

> Source: https://qsr.pro/articles/family-health-premiums-small-firm-workers-2026
> Publisher: QSR Pro
> Last content update: 2026-10-27T12:44:16.931957+00:00


KFF compares family premiums and worker contributions. Separate federal data distinguish benefit access from enrollment.

Published: 2026-10-27T12:44:16.931957+00:00

By QSR Pro Staff

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Smaller firms had lower average family health premiums but higher employee contributions in [KFF’s 2026 employer survey](https://www.kff.org/health-costs/2026-employer-health-benefits-survey/), released October 22.

At firms with 10 to 199 workers, annual family premiums averaged $27,288, compared with $28,592 at firms with 200 or more. Covered workers’ average contributions were $9,687 and $6,840, respectively. These national figures cover private and nonfederal public employers across industries. KFF defines family coverage as coverage for a family of four.

Federal data measure another part of a benefits offer: access and enrollment.

In March 2026, 87% of full-time private-industry workers had access to medical benefits and 58% participated. For part-time workers, those figures were 23% and 11%, according to [Bureau of Labor Statistics data](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ebs2_09252026.pdf#page=9).

Participation measures enrollment across all workers in each group. [Take-up](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ebs2_09252026.pdf#page=10) measures enrollment among those with access. BLS reported take-up rates of 67% for full-time workers and 47% for part-time workers. That means fewer than half of part-time workers with access enrolled, even though that group was already a minority of all part-time workers.

Category: [People & Culture](https://qsr.pro/categories/people)