Comparing Health Insurance Between Job Offers
TL;DR / Quick Take
Two offers with the same base salary can differ by $8,000–$12,000 a year in health costs alone once you factor in premiums, deductibles, and whether the employer covers dependents.
Side-by-Side: What to Line Up
Family Coverage: Where Offers Diverge Most
Single coverage differences are often a few hundred dollars a month. Add a spouse and two kids and the gap explodes. One employer might cover 90% of family premiums; another might cover 60%. On a $1,800/month family plan, that's $648/month — $7,776 per year — before anyone visits a doctor.
If you're comparing offers and you have dependents, ask HR for the exact family premium split, not just the employee-only rate on the benefits summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pick the plan with the lowest premium?
Only if you're healthy, rarely use care, and have an emergency fund to cover the deductible. Otherwise, total expected cost (premium + likely out-of-pocket) is the better comparison metric.
When do benefits start after I join?
Many employers start coverage the first of the month after your start date; some have a 30- or 60-day waiting period. A gap in coverage has a real cost — factor it in if you're leaving a job mid-year.
How do I put a dollar value on health benefits for Adjusted Value?
Use employer premium contributions plus any HSA seed money as a positive adjustment. Subtract your expected out-of-pocket (premium + deductible usage) as a negative. WMO models employer-paid premium share as a direct benefits value add.