U.S. workers' health costs soaring, studies show

[RedEarth]

Source: (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. workers getting health insurance for their families through employers have seen their premiums more than double in the last decade and the trend toward higher health costs is expected to continue, according to two reports released on Tuesday.

The Kaiser Family Foundation said the average premium for a company-provided family health insurance plan rose from $5,791 in 1999 to $13,375, a 131 percent jump.

Separately, the Business Roundtable, an organization that represents large U.S. corporations, said per-employee costs will jump to $28,530 in 2019 from $10,743 currently if nothing is done.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE58E45420090915

[Captain Hilts]

1. Kick.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. So What?

The bankers are happy, and all is well.

[Beavker]

3. It's telling of the level of corruption in Washington

Most people are for a public option if not single payer. Those that aren't don't know how to spell INSURANCE anyway and can't be persuaded that the Earth is not flat.

Doctors back the PO. Small Business and I'd guess large businesses (sans Insurance Companies and their major shareholders) should obviously back it per this article.

We agree that costs are too high, everyone needs to be insured, and reform needs to happen. Yet, the public option is killing the hole thing.

Ram it through Dems!

"Flat Earth Society"

lie lie lie... the full moon is rising over dark water and the fools
below are picking up sticks and the man in the gallows lies
permanently waiting for the doctors to come back and tend to him, the
flat earth society is meeting here today, singing happy little lies
and the bright ship humana is sent far away with grave
determination... and no destination, lie lie lie... yeah, nothing
feels better than a spray of clean water and the whistling wind on a
calm summer night but you'd better believe that down in their quarters
the men are holding on for their dear lives, the flat earth society is
somewhere far away, with their candlesticks and compasses and the
bright ship humana is well on its way with grave determination... and
no destination, lie lie lie, ad inifinitum

Bad Religion

[sofa king]

4. Isn't it, though?

The entire question turns around whether or not it should be legal, moral, and ethical to profit from the health or lack thereof of our citizens. The icing on the cake is that religion is being misused as a political tool to deceive those who need help the most. Some of them will die for their small-minded god.

The number of people who actually do profit from such a practice is vanishingly small.

The number of people who suffer for it is astronomical.

So it comes down to the people versus their evil, amoral, unethical, greedy insurers... and the insurers are winning. And make no mistake, the final decision in this matter will be a cross-section of this entire country's commitment to its own citizens and their well being. It will be, in essence, a moral snapshot of our nation.

And it's going to be ugly.

[SergeStorms]

5. Sun rises in east..........

water is wet, fire is hot......... :shrug: It's a given. A REAL headline would read, 'U.S. workers' health costs drop line stone, studies show'.

[Canuckistanian]

6. You'd think that they might cut their prices while their existence is being threatened

You know, maybe actually REDUCE premiums or at least keep them steady while this debate was going on. At least to make a small blip on the statistics.

But sadly, no. They're cutting their own throats and STRENGTHENING the case against them.

Or do they KNOW their profits are doomed and are trying to milk it while they can?

[Captain Hilts]

7. I wonder why this thread is dropping like a rock. nt

[Feron]

8. Here's another article in the same vein:

Rising health care costs are the single biggest economic concern facing American businesses, according to a survey of business leaders released today by Business Forward.

Nearly 90% of those polled cite health care costs as a major concern, more than cite taxes, government regulation, labor costs or energy costs.

Without reform, 86% of those polled believe that health care costs will continue to rise in the next five years, and 55% believe it will go up "a lot." If costs continue to rise as expected, nearly 9 out of 10 business leaders expect to raise their employees' deductibles and copayments. Nearly 8 out of 10 expect to cut benefits. And nearly one in three expects to lay off employees.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32799150/site/14081545

[jtrockville]

9. Hey Reuters! Premiums are only PART of our health "care" costs.

[4_TN_TITANS]

10. Are the insurance companies trying for a last ditch grab?

Like the credit card companies have been?

[Steerpike]

11. Damn Leeches!

In the last ten years my pay raises have amounted to 3k annual. As I have mentioned before, my paycheck has stayed the same...how could that be? The answer is that my insurance premiums have gone up at least that much...keeping a healthy pace with my payraises.
The bad news is that I probably won't be getting a payraise this year...but my premiums will still go up...the walls are closing in...

[dysfunctional press]

12. there is a fairly simple solution...

single-payer.