The health plan rates available to individuals cost quite a bit more than ones negotiated by a big company or consortium of smaller companies.
When I last had to do my own insurance, it was $2200/month for a high end, lowish deductible plan that covered my family. Choice is nice, but the costs are so high now that I'd rather have the lower negotiated rates with less choices.
You are right, big-group rates are the lowest. Grouping smaller companies to negotiate lower rates is something we are actively pursuing.
Small group prices can, on average, be more or less competitive than the individual market, depending on geography. In recent years, the prices of both types of insurance have been trending towards similarity, but there is still substantial variation region-by-region.
>When I last had to do my own insurance, it was $2200/month for a high end, lowish deductible plan that covered my family.
That's probably not too far from what you'd get with an employer except you're paying the whole cost instead of them. My middle of the road employer plan costs $1250 for me and my spouse (not counting dental and vision). I think family was $1700 or so. And sounds like you were aiming for a decently better plan than what I have.
Are you including the portion the big companies pay (DD line on W-2?)
$25-26k a year for a low deductible family plan seems about right. I have a HD plan through my company and it costs roughly that including my HSA contributions.
Not just rates, but options. Before my employer added healthcare as a benefit, my options were getting worse and worse every year. The last year there weren't any PPOs available via the marketplace. (My employer plan is a great PPO however)
My employer subsidized is $650/month for a similar plan, but I don't have a view into what their share is. I'm sure the total is lower though. They have a lot more leverage.
10 years ago, I was paying $900/month for the same plan on my own.
When I last had to do my own insurance, it was $2200/month for a high end, lowish deductible plan that covered my family. Choice is nice, but the costs are so high now that I'd rather have the lower negotiated rates with less choices.