The 2011 9% premium increase outpaces workers' wages (2.1%) and inflation (3.2%).

Grandfathered plans also are a significant coverage option, the survey finds, with 56% of covered workers falling into these plans, which are exempted from certain health reform requirements. Some of the exemptions include covering preventive benefits with no cost sharing and providing an external appeals process. To qualify, no significant plan changes can be made that reduce benefits or increase employee cost. 23% of covered workers are enrolled in plans that adjusted cost-sharing requirements for preventive services because of the health reform law that states non-grandfathered plans must provide certain preventive benefits without cost sharing. Another 31% of covered workers participate in plans that modified their preventive services because of health reform.