Health insurance allows individuals, families and businesses
to protect themselves against the risk of incurring sudden or significant
medical costs related to their health. In addition to providing financial
protection and peace of mind for policyholders, health insurance plans are
increasingly providing programs and expertise to improve the quality and safety
of patient care by promoting prevention and wellness, helping patients manage
chronic conditions, partnering with medical providers, and driving innovations.
Polls show that people with private health insurance are consistently satisfied with their coverage. According to the Employee Benefits Research Group, 73% of people enrolled in a traditional health care plan were extremely or very satisfied with the quality of coverage they received through their health plan. Other surveys have consistently demonstrated similar results.
There are two ways in which people access private-market health insurance: 1) the individual insurance market, and 2) employer-sponsored coverage, which is comprised of the small group and large group markets. Each market has distinct characteristics and operates under different regulations.
To learn more about the value of private health insurance plans, please click here.
In this section:
Latest Documents
The Kaiser Family Foundation conducts this annual survey of employers and provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, and other relevant information.
AHIP Web Resources
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Strategic Communications
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06/05/2012
In July 2010, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) conducted a comprehensive survey of member companies offering coverage in the small group health insurance market. Responses included premium and benefit data from more than 477,000 small groups (those with 50 or fewer employees), reflecting approximately 3.7 million workers and 1.3 million dependents with coverage as of January 2010.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research, Product Policy
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07/08/2011
An annual census by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of U.S. health insurance carriers shows that the number of people covered by health savings account/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs) totaled 11.4 million in January 2011.
View slides for this report.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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06/16/2011
An annual census by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of U.S. health insurance carriers shows that the number of people covered by health savings account/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs) totaled 11.4 million in January 2011.
View the full report.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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06/16/2011
A comprehensive study of financial activity in health savings accounts (HSAs). Data collected from three large banks contain detailed account information of more than 1.2 million HSA accounts open as of December 31, 2009.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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12/06/2010
This fact check from the AHIP Coverage blog compiles research on the critical role of the individual insurance market, which serves more than 14 million people. The blog post also highlights what thought leaders, think tanks and the media are saying about the importance of a personal coverage requirement.
AHIP Coverage Blog Posts
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10/12/2010
The Kaiser Family Foundation conducts this annual survey of employers and provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, and other relevant information.
AHIP Web Resources
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09/02/2010
In response to questions from Congressman Crowley, AHIP explains the factors that are likely to cause potential premium increases within the small group market in the coming years.
12/15/2009
The latest in a series of AHIP surveys shows that the market for individually purchased coverage is more affordable and accessible than may be widely known.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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10/21/2009
For this follow-up study, the responding banks used a geo-coding technique to estimate the income characteristics of those HSA accountholders, which allows analysis of account balances, inflows and outflows by income range.
Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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05/13/2009
November 2007 A Survey of Preventive Benefits in Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans, July 2007 www.ahipresearch.org 2 A Survey of Preventive Benefits in Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans, July 2007 Most HSA Plans Provide First-Dollar Coverage for Recommended Preventive Care November 2007 SUMMARY In July 2007, Americas
Research
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11/19/2007
Multimedia Library
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
AHIP member company produced video - BCBS of Massachusetts: The Alternative Quality of Contract
Multimedia Library
AHIP member company produced video - Cigna: A Cigna Member Tells How the Health Plan Helped Her Following a Car Accident
Multimedia Library
AHIP member company produced video - Cigna: A Cigna Member with Diabetes Tells How the Health Plan's Wellness Program Turned Her Life Around
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
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Center for Policy and Research
Employer-sponsored health coverage is the most common type of health insurance. About 157 million nonelderly Americans receive their health benefits through an employer.
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield - Keeping Medications Affordable
Multimedia Library
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Center for Policy and Research
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Video - Overcoming Confusion about Medications after a Hospital or Rehab Stay
Multimedia Library
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Center for Policy and Research
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Video - Protecting Patients from Adverse Drug Interactions
Multimedia Library
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Center for Policy and Research
AHIP member company produced video - Group Health Cooperative: Living Well with Chronic Conditions
Multimedia Library
AHIP member company produced video - Group Health Cooperative: The Medical Home
Multimedia Library
Health savings accounts (HSAs) and the high-deductible health plans that are paired with them are an increasingly popular choice for individuals, families and employers. This coverage option provides individuals with a comprehensive health insurance plan, while also giving them the opportunity to save tax-deferred funds for qualified medical expenses, such as doctor visits and prescription drugs.
HealthPartners Video - Achieving Results that Make a Difference for Diabetes Patients
Multimedia Library
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Center for Policy and Research
HealthPartners Video - Coaching Patients on Reaching Goals for Better Health
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Center for Policy and Research
Health Partners Video - Empowering Patients with Diabetes to Improve Their Health
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Center for Policy and Research
HealthPartners Video -The Diabetes Wizard
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Center for Policy and Research
AHIP member company produced video - Humana: Humana Cares
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Independence Blue Cross video - Enabling Doctors and Nurses to Realize their Goals for Excellence
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Center for Policy and Research
Independence Blue Cross's doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and pharmacists work together to make sure that patients have the lab tests, primary and specialty care, and patient support they need to live healthy lives.
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Center for Policy and Research
The individual insurance market provides coverage to more than 14 million people who purchase health insurance on their own. Because individual health insurance is not subsidized by employers or through the tax code, each consumer is forced to pay the entire cost of the premium. The nature of the individual market differs greatly from the group markets because of many variables that make it a challenge to predict costs. In fact, many people who do not have employer-sponsored coverage only purchase individual market coverage when they anticipate needing medical services.
Kaiser Permanente Video - Making Exercise a Vital Sign
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Center for Policy and Research
Kaiser Permanente Video - Offering Culturally Sensitive Counseling for Weight Loss
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Center for Policy and Research
Kaiser Permanente Video - Using Web-Based Learning and Social Media to Help Patients Lose Weight
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AHIP member company produced video - Sentra/Optima Health: The Wellness Payoff
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The Health Savings Alliance is a non-partisan, educational and grassroots initiative of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The Alliance is working to urge Congress to strengthen HSAs and HSA health plans, which continue to help protect families from the rising costs of health care.
AHIP Web Resources