Provide detailed thoughts and analysis in 1 paragraph of the issues/topics discussed in the paragraph below.

Annual family-plan premiums rose 4% to hit $22,221 for an employer-provided family plan in 2021, up from $21,342. The rate of increase in premiums in 2021 was the same as that for the previous year, reflecting little overall impact from the pandemic. The pandemic did lead to some changes for workplace health benefits, including enhanced access to telemedicine and mental-health services. Employers continued their pause in the expansion of deductibles, which are out-of-pocket charges. A Kaiser survey shows that 42% of small firms now report they have level-funded health care plans. Such setups may attract employers with generally healthier workforces, leaving sicker ones in traditional plans. The setup allows smaller employers to be self-insured and pay their workers' health expenses themselves. It also offers more predictable payments and uses reinsurance to reduce the risk from large claims. That poses a risk, he said, that premiums for the traditional plans will go up. The Kaiser survey was conducted between January and July of 2021 and drew responses from 1,686 employers.