[qqqbear]

September 2, 2010, 11:00 am
Survey: Employers Pass on More Health Costs to Workers
By REED ABELSON

Score one for the nation’s employers. On average, the total cost of a family health insurance policy rose just 3 percent last year, to $13,770 in annual premiums, according to a survey of employer health benefits released on
Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit research group.

But the news was much better for employers than their workers, according to the survey, which is conducted yearly by Kaiser with the Health Research and Educational Trust, an organization affiliated with the American Hospital Association. Instead of sharing the pain, as they have generally done in the past, employers chose to keep their costs steady by passing the higher costs onto workers.

As a result, the employee contribution toward family coverage rose an average of 14 percent, or almost $500, from what employees paid last year. Workers are now paying nearly $4,000 a year for a family policy, a jump of 47 percent since 2005. Wages have increased by just 18 percent during that time, according to Kaiser. It included a chart detailing the changes over the last five years.


http://prescriptions...sts-to-workers/

[Lee Adler]

That is a shocking cost for US employers to have to bear, putting US operations at a severe competitive disadvantage to the rest of the world.

The US medical services delivery system is an unconscionable, price-gouging mess. It's a disgrace that we don't have national health care. The reason why not? Because it's cheaper and better and we can't let that stand in the way of health insurance, hospital chain, and pharmaceutical profits and obscene executive salaries.

[qqqbear]

http://www.nytimes.c...ner=rss&emc=rss

more examples of what companies are doing
tax credits for doing more

[Thomas]

Yet another bit of data for the Pile of Doom building up.

[JonLaw]

I'm finally transitioning back from pay my own way health care to employer paid health care.

So, my health care costs are dropping.

I know it's anecdotal, but it's certainly a positive for me.

[Lee Adler]

The employer isn't paying for your health care. You are. This is the problem. Even smart people don't understand this basic principle.

[JonLaw]

Lee Adler, on 03 September 2010 - 12:58 PM, said:

The employer isn't paying for your health care. You are. This is the problem. Even smart people don't understand this basic principle.

No, I understand that.

And I was only paying about $200/month for my $10,000 deductible plan.

Just as I understand that I am really paying both sides of Social Security/Medicare tax.

Which means that I got a raise with my new position, even though the cash amount is terms of salary is the same.

[Lee Adler]

I understand that under the new law I can now buy insurance in FL for those previously denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. Cost- $853 a month.

Yay. That's just for me by the way. My wife pays around $200 a month for a high deductible plan.

The state has opted not to administer a plan, which means I would be offered the Federally run plan. I think I'll move back to PA where the same policy will be offered by the state run plan for about $500.

Or I could just put that 10k a year I'd save into one of those high interest savings accounts that the banks are offering, get a free toaster, and save 50 large until I turn 65.

Hmmm. Pay me or pay them?

[Thomas]

Two slice or four?