Employer-Based Health Insurance Showing Steady Decline

Obamacare benefits young adults, while employed adults get axed

A new Gallup poll says that young adults, 18-26, are likely benefiting from the provision in the Obamacare law that lets them stay on their parents' health plans until age 26 while the number of American adults who get their insurance from an employer are declining.

The poll reflects trends in healthcare insurance from 2008 to 2011. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans who receive health benefits through their jobs has been steadily declining over three years.

In 2008, nearly 50% of adults received employer-based health insurance. That percentage dropped to slightly under 45% in 2011.

Likewise, the percentage of Americans with no insurance at all has risen over recent years, with 2011 reaching a record high at 17.3% -- a 1% increase from 2010. 

And, although, those receiving government aid—Medicare, Medicaid, or military/veterans' benefits – have declined somewhat over the past couple of months, the percentage of Americans with government health insurance remains significantly higher (25%) than in 2008 (23%).

Economic analysts say the downward trend in employer-based healthcare will likely continue as employers make changes to their benefits selections. Earlier this month Wal-Mart announced it would no longer offer health insurance packages to new part-time employees. The nation’s largest retailer also laid out several other cuts to its health insurance offerings, including some workers' ability to get coverage for their spouses. Other companies have already made similar changes to employee health coverage.

The percentage of Americans who are uninsured are rising and it's possible that the uninsured rate will continue rising as companies adjust to new healthcare reform laws, most of which won't kick in for another couple years.