For the 2009 Plan Year, 7/08-7/09, the annual average state health insurance premium for the State of NV self-funded public employee’s benefits plan was $8,169.40 (Source: State of NV, PEBP Utilization Report, Sept. 2009). During this benefits period, 16780 active state employees paid from their salary (pre-tax dollars) on average $832.44 ($44.37/month); the State of NV as employer subsidized the balance.
Please note that Nevada collects no corporate or personal income tax and is widely noted for its "pro-business" tax climate. Gaming profits, property, and sales taxes comprise the larger portion of state revenue.
NV’s self-funded insurance is also open to non-state employee participants: their annual cost per employee is $8,592.31 (Source: PEBP, Sept. 2009). Private participants receive far less subsidy from their employers; thus, their monthly annual individual premium cost average is much higher, $716.03.
Calculating the average annual health insurance premium for both groups of State of NV PEBP active (employed) participants yields $8218.56.
The annual national average cost for "employer-based health care costs" in the US, according to the Business Roundtable’s recent Health Care Reform report, is $10,743.