<P> Health insurance costs in the United States are a major factor in access to health coverage . The rising cost of health insurance leads more consumers to go without coverage and increase in insurance cost and accompanying rise in the cost of health care expenses has led health insurers to provide more policies with higher deductibles and other limitations that require the consumer to pay a greater share of the cost themselves . </P> <P> According to Senator Dianne Feinstein, the United States is the "only industrialized nation that relies heavily on a for - profit medical insurance industry to provide basic health care ." The Kaiser Family Foundation claims that health insurance costs are driven not only by the added cost of health insurers making their profits, but also by rising health costs and administrative costs . </P> <P> In 2004, employer - sponsored health insurance premiums grew 11.2% to $9,950 for family coverage, and $3,695 for a single person, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Education Trust . The survey also found that 61% of workers were receiving employer sponsored health insurance . </P> <P> Five years later, Kaiser's 2009 survey found that employer health insurance premiums were $13,375 for a family and $4,824 for a single person . About 60% of workers were receiving employer sponsored health insurance . Less than half (46%) of employees at small firms with 3 to 9 workers received coverage . As of 2008, the percentage of Americans receiving employer sponsored health insurance had declined for the eighth consecutive year, says the Kaiser Family Foundation . </P>

The average cost of health insurance in america