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The cost of health care is on the rise and fewer micro-businesses owners are offering coverage to their employees.

A survey of nearly 4,000 micro-businesses found that 18.6% of the respondents said their health care plans are covering full-time employees this year. That number is down from 46.2% in 2005.

A micro-business has 10 or fewer employees. More than 65% of the respondents cited health care costs as the most significant barrier to offering their employees insurance.

The survey found that 10% of micro-businesses spend 25 percent or more of their revenue on health insurance. That's compared to the 10.1% of revenue the small business owners said they spent on health care in 2005.

Most small business owners are turning to employees to pay a larger share of their health care premium -- 87% in 2008, compared with 64.5% in 2005.

More small business owners, however, now have health insurance compared to 2005. In 2005, nearly 55% of the respondents said they had health insurance. That's compared to 67% who now say they have coverage.