SECTION3. EMPLOYEECOVERAGE,ELIGIBILITY,ANDPARTICIPATION TAKE-UPRATE • Alargeshareofworkerswhoareofferedhealthbenefitsatworkelecttoenroll. In2017,78%ofeligibleworkerstakeup 2 coveragewhenitisofferedtothem,similartolastyear[Figure3.1]. Eligibleworkersinlargefirms(200ormoreworkers) aremorelikelytotakeupcoveragewhenofferedthaneligibleworkersinsmallfirms(3-199workers)(79%vs.75%) [Figure 3.2]. – Thelikelihoodofaworkeracceptingafirm’sofferofcoveragevariesbyfirmwagelevel. Eligibleworkersinfirms witharelativelysmallshareoflower-wageworkers(wherefewerthan35%ofworkersearn$24,000ayearorless) aremorelikelytotakeupcoveragethaneligibleworkersinfirmswithalargershareoflower-wageworkers(79% vs. 65%) [Figure 3.4]. – Eligible workers in firms with a relatively large share of higher-wage workers (where at least 35% earn $60,000 ormoreannually)aremorelikelytotakeupcoveragethanthoseinfirmswithasmallershareofhigher-wage workers(82%vs.74%)[Figure3.4]. – Eligible workers in firms with relatively large share of younger workers (where at least 35% of the workers are age 26oryounger)arelesslikelytotakeupcoveragethanthoseinfirmswithasmallershareofyoungerworkers(70% vs. 79%) [Figure 3.4]. – Thepercentageofeligibleworkerstakingupbenefitsinofferingfirmsalsovariesbyindustry,withaloweraverage take-uprateatretailfirms(63%)andahigheraveragetake-uprateatstateandlocalgovernments(89%)[Figure 3.2]. 2 In 2009, Kaiser/HRETbeganweightingthepercentageofworkersthattakeupcoveragebythenumberofworkerseligibleforcoverage. Thehistoricaltakeup estimateshavealsobeenupdated. SeetheSurveyDesignandMethodssectionformoreinformation. The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust / Page 58