Health Insurance Premiums Rise a Moderate 4%

From L.A. Times, by Chad Terhune

The price of health insurance provided by employers rose a moderate 4% this year, a major survey shows, but experts warn that rates may climb higher next year.

Annual insurance premiums for families increased 4%, on average, to $15,745, according to the survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. That was down from a 9% hike in 2011.

Still, even modest increases in healthcare costs are difficult to absorb for many businesses and workers struggling to cope with a sluggish economy. Health premiums have been on an unrelenting march upward for years, and many employers have shifted more of those costs to workers.

Since 2002, U.S. health premiums have shot up 97%, three times as fast as wages and inflation nationwide, the survey found.

Read the full article.

Published September 12th, 2012

Like this post? Consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter.