Workers are pretty happy with their own health plan, but when the story turns to the overall health care system, feelings change.

According to a survey by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald & Associates, about half (51 percent) of those with coverage say they are “extremely” or “very satisfied.” Another 37 percent said they're “somewhat satisfied” with their health plan, while 10 percent said they aren't too (8 percent) or not at all (2 percent) satisfied.

But satisfaction among workers drops for the health care system as a whole.

Just 12 percent describe America's health care system as “very good,” while 2 percent say it's “excellent.” The majority of workers describe it as poor (21 percent) or fair (34 percent), while 31 percent consider it “good.”

The primary reason for dissatisfaction with the health care system? Cost.

Despite reports that health care spending is slowing down, health costs remain incredibly high.

A report from the Kaiser Family Foundation confirmed long-held suspicions that the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage continues to rise at a faster rate than wages and inflation. Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family coverage climbed nearly 4 percent this year to top $16,000 for the first time, Kaiser found. The cost of single coverage rose almost 5 percent.

Worker wages, meanwhile, climbed nearly 2 percent on average.

In fact, EBRI's research found that about six in 10 workers with coverage report having experienced an increase in health care costs over the past year.

And the rising cost is causing financial difficulties for many workers. Among those experiencing cost increases in their plans in the past year, 32 percent said they'VE cut retirement plan contributions and more than half (57 percent) have dropped contributions to other savings vehicles.

Two in 10 (22 percent) also reported they have had difficulty paying for basic necessities such as food, heat and housing, while 38 percent say they'VE had difficulty paying other bills. More than one-quarter (27 percent) say they'VE used up all or most of their savings, 33 percent have rung up more credit card debt, and 16 percent report they'VE borrowed money.

Instant Insights /

Americans like their health plans, not the system

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