Healthcare Costs Eat Larger Share of Pay: Median Family Spending by State (2024)

In 2024, median households in 19 states spent 10% or more of their pay on employer-sponsored health coverage, with costs rising faster than raises in many areas. The Commonwealth Fund analyzed 2024 data and found combined premiums and deductibles for family plans averaged 10.1% of median household income nationwide—$24,540 in premiums and $7,216 in contributions. In Louisiana, the share reached 15.6%, while New Hampshire (6.9%) and Washington, D.C. (5.7%) had the lowest burdens. Last year, KFF reported average annual premiums for employer-sponsored family plans reached nearly $27,000, with workers paying about $6,850, and costs are expected to climb further in 2026 due to higher utilization, weight-loss drugs, and more expensive therapies.