SECTION3. EMPLOYEECOVERAGE,ELIGIBILITY,ANDPARTICIPATION • Theshareofeligibleworkerstakingupbenefitsinofferingfirms(78%)hasdecreasedovertime,from81%in2012and 82%in2007. COVERAGE • Thepercentageofworkersatfirmsofferinghealthbenefitsthatarecoveredbytheirfirm’shealthplanin2017is62%, thesamepercentageaslastyear[Figure3.1]. – Thecoveragerateatfirmsofferinghealthbenefitsisthesameforsmallfirmsandlargefirmsin2017. Theserates aresimilartotherateslastyearforbothsmallfirmsandlargefirms[Figure3.1]. • Thereissignificantvariationbyindustryinthecoveragerateamongworkersinfirmsofferinghealthbenefits. The averagecoveragerateisparticularlylowinretail(34%)andservice(57%)industries[Figure3.2]. • Amongworkersinfirmsofferinghealthbenefits,thoseinfirmswitharelativelylargeshareoflower-wageworkers (whereatleast35%ofworkersearn$24,000ayearorless)arelesslikelytobecoveredbytheirownfirmthanworkersin firmswithasmallershareoflower-wageworkers(44%vs.64%). Acomparablepatternexistsinfirmswitharelatively large share of higher-wageworkers(whereatleast35%earn$60,000ormoreannually),withworkersinthese firmsbeingmorelikelytobecoveredbytheiremployer’shealthbenefitsthanthoseinfirmswithasmallershareof higher-wageworkers(72%vs.54%)[Figure3.5]. • Amongworkersinfirmsofferinghealthbenefits,thoseinfirmswitharelativelysmallshareofyoungerworkers(where fewerthan35%oftheworkersareage26oryounger)aremorelikelytobecoveredbytheirownfirmthanthoseinfirms withalargershareofyoungerworkers(64%vs.45%)[Figure3.5]. • Amongworkersinallfirms,includingthosethatofferandthosethatdonotofferhealthbenefits,55%ofworkersare coveredbyhealthbenefitsofferedbytheiremployer,thesamepercentageaslastyear. Thecoverageratein2017is lowerthanthecoverageratein2007(59%). The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust / Page 59