As small employers research health insurance coverage options, it is common to evaluate different strategies and cost. To help, the following charts list average group health insurance costs by state for single and family coverage.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated with the most current group health insurance data. The article was originally published in January 2013.
Average Group Health Insurance Costs (Single Coverage)
The following chart shows the average cost of group health insurance for single coverage (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014).
Location |
Employee |
Employer |
Total |
United States |
$1,234 |
$4,598 |
$5,832 |
Alabama |
$1,362 |
$4,164 |
$5,526 |
Alaska |
$1,286 |
$5,813 |
$7,099 |
Arizona |
$1,096 |
$4,260 |
$5,356 |
Arkansas |
$958 |
$3,888 |
$4,846 |
California |
$1,129 |
$4,712 |
$5,841 |
Colorado |
$1,244 |
$4,604 |
$5,848 |
Connecticut |
$1,305 |
$4,918 |
$6,223 |
Delaware |
$1,237 |
$4,908 |
$6,145 |
District of Columbia |
$1,197 |
$4,900 |
$6,097 |
Florida |
$1,394 |
$4,373 |
$5,767 |
Georgia |
$1,203 |
$4,367 |
$5,570 |
Hawaii |
$460 |
$4,856 |
$5,316 |
Idaho |
$1,039 |
$3,939 |
$4,978 |
Illinois |
$1,306 |
$4,820 |
$6,126 |
Indiana |
$1,347 |
$4,694 |
$6,041 |
Iowa |
$1,353 |
$4,204 |
$5,557 |
Kansas |
$1,072 |
$4,293 |
$5,365 |
Kentucky |
$1,314 |
$4,600 |
$5,914 |
Louisiana |
$1,302 |
$4,398 |
$5,700 |
Maine |
$1,176 |
$4,727 |
$5,903 |
Maryland |
$1,422 |
$4,637 |
$6,059 |
Massachusetts |
$1,588 |
$4,760 |
$6,348 |
Michigan |
$1,315 |
$4,295 |
$5,610 |
Minnesota |
$1,217 |
$4,615 |
$5,832 |
Mississippi |
$1,154 |
$4,289 |
$5,443 |
Missouri |
$1,243 |
$4,274 |
$5,517 |
Montana |
$1,024 |
$4,852 |
$5,876 |
Nebraska |
$1,322 |
$4,235 |
$5,557 |
Nevada |
$1,204 |
$4,222 |
$5,426 |
New Hampshire |
$1,481 |
$4,855 |
$6,336 |
New Jersey |
$1,293 |
$5,154 |
$6,447 |
New Mexico |
$1,354 |
$4,371 |
$5,725 |
New York |
$1,223 |
$5,084 |
$6,307 |
North Carolina |
$1,151 |
$4,442 |
$5,593 |
North Dakota |
$1,136 |
$4,385 |
$5,521 |
Ohio |
$1,260 |
$4,670 |
$5,930 |
Oklahoma |
$1,154 |
$4,495 |
$5,649 |
Oregon |
$914 |
$4,793 |
$5,707 |
Pennsylvania |
$1,141 |
$4,747 |
$5,888 |
Rhode Island |
$1,459 |
$4,697 |
$6,156 |
South Carolina |
$1,332 |
$4,518 |
$5,850 |
South Dakota |
$1,213 |
$4,646 |
$5,859 |
Tennessee |
$1,409 |
$3,901 |
$5,310 |
Texas |
$1,211 |
$4,529 |
$5,740 |
Utah |
$1,297 |
$4,241 |
$5,538 |
Vermont |
$1,281 |
$4,899 |
$6,180 |
Virginia |
$1,296 |
$4,126 |
$5,422 |
Washington |
$937 |
$4,973 |
$5,910 |
West Virginia |
$1,297 |
$4,852 |
$6,149 |
Wisconsin |
$1,257 |
$4,611 |
$5,868 |
Wyoming |
$1,139 |
$4,701 |
$5,840 |
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Average Group Health Insurance Costs (Family Coverage)
The following chart shows the average cost of group health insurance for family coverage (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014).
Location |
Employer |
Employee |
Total |
United States |
$12,137 |
$4,518 |
$16,655 |
Alabama |
$10,074 |
$4,278 |
$14,352 |
Alaska |
$15,484 |
$4,229 |
$19,713 |
Arizona |
$10,794 |
$4,741 |
$15,535 |
Arkansas |
$10,534 |
$3,609 |
$14,143 |
California |
$12,489 |
$4,955 |
$17,444 |
Colorado |
$11,430 |
$4,502 |
$15,932 |
Connecticut |
$14,096 |
$4,027 |
$18,123 |
Delaware |
$13,305 |
$4,209 |
$17,514 |
District of Columbia |
$12,715 |
$4,324 |
$17,039 |
Florida |
$10,700 |
$5,215 |
$15,915 |
Georgia |
$11,761 |
$4,448 |
$16,209 |
Hawaii |
$11,621 |
$3,227 |
$14,848 |
Idaho |
$10,282 |
$4,447 |
$14,729 |
Illinois |
$12,443 |
$4,750 |
$17,193 |
Indiana |
$12,747 |
$4,476 |
$17,223 |
Iowa |
$11,672 |
$4,227 |
$15,899 |
Kansas |
$11,543 |
$4,109 |
$15,652 |
Kentucky |
$12,452 |
$4,259 |
$16,711 |
Louisiana |
$10,874 |
$5,054 |
$15,928 |
Maine |
$12,420 |
$4,094 |
$16,514 |
Maryland |
$12,011 |
$5,221 |
$17,232 |
Massachusetts |
$12,868 |
$4,834 |
$17,702 |
Michigan |
$11,750 |
$3,858 |
$15,608 |
Minnesota |
$12,191 |
$4,170 |
$16,361 |
Mississippi |
$10,414 |
$4,678 |
$15,092 |
Missouri |
$11,621 |
$3,872 |
$15,493 |
Montana |
$10,725 |
$4,280 |
$15,005 |
Nebraska |
$11,754 |
$4,385 |
$16,139 |
Nevada |
$11,940 |
$4,212 |
$16,152 |
New Hampshire |
$13,227 |
$4,899 |
$18,126 |
New Jersey |
$14,833 |
$4,310 |
$19,143 |
New Mexico |
$11,211 |
$4,555 |
$15,766 |
New York |
$13,237 |
$4,159 |
$17,396 |
North Carolina |
$11,563 |
$4,647 |
$16,210 |
North Dakota |
$11,461 |
$3,985 |
$15,446 |
Ohio |
$12,402 |
$3,572 |
$15,974 |
Oklahoma |
$11,671 |
$4,609 |
$16,280 |
Oregon |
$11,775 |
$4,555 |
$16,330 |
Pennsylvania |
$12,730 |
$3,598 |
$16,328 |
Rhode Island |
$11,738 |
$4,681 |
$16,419 |
South Carolina |
$11,934 |
$4,110 |
$16,044 |
South Dakota |
$11,622 |
$4,730 |
$16,352 |
Tennessee |
$10,746 |
$5,255 |
$16,001 |
Texas |
$11,623 |
$5,344 |
$16,967 |
Utah |
$11,321 |
$4,642 |
$15,963 |
Vermont |
$12,443 |
$4,216 |
$16,659 |
Virginia |
$11,312 |
$5,289 |
$16,601 |
Washington |
$12,940 |
$4,505 |
$17,445 |
West Virginia |
$13,214 |
$4,219 |
$17,433 |
Wisconsin |
$13,418 |
$3,791 |
$17,209 |
Wyoming |
$12,023 |
$4,276 |
$16,299 |
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Conclusion
Nationwide, the cost of group health insurance coverage in 2014 totaled $5,832 for single coverage and $16,655 for family coverage. Of course, the exact amount your small business will pay for health insurance will depend few factors, including state and region. For a detailed health insurance quote, contact a licensed broker. To learn more about small business health insurance options, click on these additional resources:
- The Cost of Small Business Health Insurance By State
- Top 5 Health Insurance Options for Small Groups in 2016
- FAQ: Does My Small Business Have to Provide Health Insurance?
Where does your state stand? Questions about the average cost of health insurance in your state? Leave a comment or question below.