The overall cost of employer based health insurance in the United States rose by only 3% from 2009 to 2010, but almost all the increase was paid for by workers out of their own pockets rather than the companies they work for, new figures show.

The 12th annual report on employer health benefits from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, both non-profit organisations working in health policy, shows that the average annual total premium for family health insurance coverage rose to $13 770 (£8940; €10 730) in 2010.

Though this was only a 3% overall rise on the 2009 …