The Indicator from Planet Money No healthcare premiums? In this economy?! Here's how.
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Mar 9, 2026 
Maria Aspin, NPR financial correspondent who covers U.S. health care, chats about companies that make healthcare much cheaper for workers. She explores a Canadian-founded startup that pays full premiums, why some firms absorb rising costs, and which employers offer no-premium plans. Short takes on trade-offs like higher deductibles and compensation shifts.
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Canadian Founder Pays Employee Premiums
- Ryan Close moved from Ontario to Chicago and built Bartesian, a cocktail-pod startup that attracted big investors like Suntory and Tom Ricketts.
- Because he grew up with Canadian healthcare, he chose to pay all upfront premiums for medical, dental, and vision for employees and families at Bartesian.
Employer Health Costs Are Ballooning
- Employer-sponsored insurance costs have risen about 26% over five years, averaging roughly $27,000 annually to cover a family of four.
- That makes employer contributions a major expense for firms and explains why many shift costs to employee paycheck deductions.
No Premium Plans Exist But Are Limited
- Employers are not required to pass insurance costs to workers; about 12% offered no-premium medical plans for individuals last year according to KFF.
- No-premium plans remain uncommon but more prevalent than many expect, and slightly declined from 2024.