{"id":7772,"date":"2026-07-16T15:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T10:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7772"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T10:54:00","slug":"california-employer-health-premiums-will-cost-as-much-as-a-new-car-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7772","title":{"rendered":"California employer health premiums will cost as much as a new car in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>Employers are bracing for what could be the highest rise in health insurance premiums in 16 years in 2027, driving up the average cost of family coverage in California to more than $30,000 \u2014 the price of a new compact car.<\/p>\n<p>Health insurance companies expect the cost of medical services and prescription drugs to soar by 9% in 2027, according to a <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/industries\/health-industries\/library\/behind-the-numbers.html\" target=\"_blank\"><u>new survey by PwC<\/u><\/a>, the highest rise the researchers have found since 2011. Insurers use those expected medical costs to calculate the price of premiums in the coming year. Many employers require workers to pay part of that cost. <\/p>\n<p>Experts say the escalating costs of employers\u2019 premiums are reducing workers\u2019 wages and take-home pay, while raising the prices of goods and services in California and across the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to erode the standard of living for lots of California families,\u201d said Glenn Melnick, a USC professor of healthcare finance.<\/p>\n<p>Melnick said when employers are forced to spend more on health insurance, there is less money available for wages. The skyrocketing premiums, he said, are like a hidden pay cut for working families.<\/p>\n<p>The higher cost also has small-business owners wondering whether they can continue paying for their workers\u2019 health insurance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/76823c9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/320x215!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e9c0575\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/568x382!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/29565ff\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/768x516!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/0c60738\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1080x726!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a9dfcd7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1240x833!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/aca6d26\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1440x968!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ececf49\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/2160x1452!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Camden Avery \" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/71cd916\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/320x215!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/382cc33\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/568x382!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/52f00fc\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/768x516!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/43d94c3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1080x726!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/842aec8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1240x833!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/fd81ab0\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/1440x968!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/90679ed\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/2160x1452!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1344\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/fbc572f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7658x5146+0+0\/resize\/2000x1344!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F53%2F3d4f04ed41f19540b188ae464e3f%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-16.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Co-owner Camden Avery makes a sale at the Booksmith in San Francisco.<\/p>\n<p>(Josh Edelson \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>This year, premiums for staff at the Booksmith, an independent bookstore on Haight Street in San Francisco, leaped by 17%, said Christin Evans, the store\u2019s owner. Next year could bring even more pain. The monthly premium for four employees is $3,250.<\/p>\n<p>To try to cope, Evans said, she has reduced staff hours by closing the store earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to absorb it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re not paying the wages we want to pay or delivering the customer service we\u2019d like to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seventeen million Californians receive health benefits from an employer. Those premiums have been rising faster in California than the national average.<\/p>\n<p>Between 2022 and 2025, the average family premium for employers in the state rose by 24% to $28,397, according to<a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/health-costs\/2025-california-health-benefits-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u> a survey<\/u><\/a> by KFF and the California Healthcare Foundation. That was nearly double the 12.2% increase in consumer prices during those years.<\/p>\n<p>Hospital, pharmaceutical and other medical costs escalated even faster after 2025.<\/p>\n<p>PwC\u2019s annual survey of insurers last year found an expected rise of 8.5% in 2026, which its researchers later revised to 9%.<\/p>\n<p>A key driver of the rising medical costs, according to experts, is prices charged by hospitals. In recent years, some health systems, including UCLA and Cedars-Sinai, have grown larger by buying nearby hospitals and expanding their clinics, becoming more dominant in the community and reducing competition. <\/p>\n<p>Melnick said the expansion of some health systems into giant organizations means that they can \u201ctell insurance companies what the price will be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Cedars-Sinai spokesperson pointed to a 2022 paper that found that for-profit health system prices had escalated faster than those at nonprofit systems like Cedars. The paper was partly funded by Cedars.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCedars-Sinai Health System\u2019s growth in recent years has expanded access to the highest levels of patient care and medical innovation across the Los Angeles region,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p>UCLA did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Another factor is the rising cost of prescription drugs. Spending on cancer drugs, the most costly category, reached $143 billion in 2025, an annual increase of 12%, the PwC survey found.<\/p>\n<p>The nation\u2019s spending on obesity medicines, including GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, soared by 81% last year, PwC said. A 30-day supply of the drugs lists for more than $1,000.<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-right=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7cd7313\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f6f7abb\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b52bda9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5a94eda\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1080x720!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ed21e2f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1240x827!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/01a1c57\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1440x960!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7aa419b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/2160x1441!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"An Ozempic injection pen.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d7d04aa\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b7323db\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/49b37fd\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/77c4056\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1080x720!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/48e42e7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1240x827!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/31b76ac\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/1440x960!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/271dd1f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/2160x1441!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/410efee\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5464+0+0\/resize\/2000x1334!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F02%2F973507f44c48858b37de86df98ee%2F1410256-fi-0215-ozempic-plastic-surgery-patient-cmh-09.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>An Ozempic injection pen.<\/p>\n<p>(Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Gallup said this month that its survey <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/712157\/glp-usage-reaches-new-high.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><u>found that 11% of U.S. adults <\/u><\/a>are now taking the GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.<\/p>\n<p>The obesity drug manufacturers say the medicines can reduce medical expenses by preventing other costly conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, but data don\u2019t yet show such reductions, PwC said.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers at the California Healthcare Foundation say a large part of the problem is that hospital operating costs, prescription drug prices and doctor fees have been allowed to grow unchecked for decades.<\/p>\n<p>The foundation estimated <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chcf.org\/resource\/why-health-care-is-so-expensive\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>in a report last year<\/u><\/a> that 25 cents of every dollar spent in California \u2014 more than $73 billion each year \u2014 does nothing to help patients. Instead it goes to excessive profits for providers, administrative red tape and other waste, the foundation found.<\/p>\n<p>California employer premiums are expected to rise next year for another reason: Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-06-27\/california-is-getting-ready-to-increase-health-insurance-tax-will-it-affect-your-premium\"><u>agreed in June to raise taxes<\/u><\/a> on the private plans to help pay for the cost of Medi-Cal, which covers the medical costs for the poor, and to help balance the state budget.<\/p>\n<p>The California Assn. of Health Plans said insurers will add the tax to next year\u2019s premiums. The trade group estimates the higher tax will cost each insured person $100 next year or $400 for a family of four.<\/p>\n<p>The higher tax must still be approved by the Trump administration. Republicans in the state Assembly wrote a letter to the administration this month, asking officials to deny the request.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers also expect a jump in premiums for families without employer insurance who purchase policies on state marketplaces such as Covered California. Some of those families faced <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/story\/2026-02-06\/loss-of-subsidies-tens-of-thousands-of-californians-are-paying-more-for-health-care-this-year-aca-obamacare\">double-digit increases this year<\/a> because of rising medical costs and the end of enhanced federal subsidies that Congress had approved as a temporary measure during the pandemic. <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/story\/2026-06-02\/more-middle-class-californians-cancel-health-coverage\">Almost 400,000 Californians dropped<\/a> their Obamacare plans this year as prices soared.<\/p>\n<p>To deal with the higher premiums, some employers are changing the design of their health plans to shift more of the cost to workers by raising deductibles and co-pays.<\/p>\n<p>Those higher out-of-pocket costs are just the beginning of the fallout. Twenty-two percent of chief financial officers<a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mercer.com\/en-us\/insights\/total-rewards\/employee-benefits-strategy\/the-cfo-perspective-on-health-2026-survey-results\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u> surveyed by Mercer in February<\/u><\/a> said the high price of health benefits had forced them to stop hiring or led to layoffs. Thirty-six percent of those executives said the rising premium costs have harmed workers\u2019 wages and raises.<\/p>\n<p>Candice Elliott, a human resources consultant in Santa Cruz, said smaller businesses such as restaurants struggle to find ways to cover the higher costs.<\/p>\n<p>Many restaurants, Elliott said, already have a slim margin between their revenues and expenses. When premiums rise, she said, some restaurants have added a fee to the customer bill to help cover workers\u2019 health costs. Others have hiked menu prices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat impacts affordability for the consumer,\u201d Elliott said. \u201cIt makes inflation greater.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some small businesses have moved from so-called silver plans to the lower-priced bronze plans, she said, which cover less of the employee\u2019s monthly premium. \u201cIt\u2019s effectively a decrease in pay for the employee,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Others are hiring employees overseas, Elliott said. \u201cYou can pay someone in the global south half of what you pay an American and still afford them a good standard of living and benefits that are unaffordable in the U.S.,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Melnick, the USC professor, said many workers don\u2019t realize how much they are losing as their employers\u2019 premiums rise. He tells people to look at their W-2 tax form from last year, where employers are required to report the cost of the employee\u2019s premium in box 12, under \u201cCode DD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said USC\u2019s premium for his family of four is $45,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe base is so high that even a small increase has a big impact,\u201d he said. The continuing annual increases, he said, are \u201cbad news for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employers are bracing for what could be the highest rise in health insurance premiums in 16 years in 2027, driving up the average cost of family coverage in California to more than $30,000 \u2014 the price of a new compact car. Health insurance companies expect the cost of medical services and prescription drugs to soar&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f9b3ed7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8256x4334+0+585\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F11%2Fdc20fa5b4ab89b2f48285fb8dbc7%2F1562392-fi-skyrocketing-california-employer-health-premiums-je-13.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}