Employees Will Be Bearing More Health Care Costs In 2006

[Judi Lynn]

Sep 13, 2005

Employees Will Be Bearing More Health Care Costs In 2006

NEW YORK (AP) _ The nation's employers are struggling with close to double-digit increases in health care costs in 2006, and consequently will be shifting more of that burden to their employees, according to a new survey of more than 1,800 firms.

The preliminary survey, released Tuesday by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, found that employers anticipate an almost 10 percent increase in health care costs next year, about three times the rate of general inflation, if they leave benefits unchanged.

But companies that were polled in the survey _ both those that purchase insurance and firms that are self-insured _ are only earmarking an average increase of 6.4 percent in their spending. That will mark the third consecutive year that employers are seeing their actual health care costs slow as they pass on more of the costs to their workers.

``Employees are bearing more of the costs because double-digit increases are unsustainable,'' said Blaine Bos, a Minneapolis-based health care consultant for Mercer.
(snip/...)

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/storiesNL.asp?whichpage=1&id=90138

[LSparkle]

1. Just when I thought I might see some light, there goes my raise

Figures.

[Robert Oak]

2. squeeze, crunch, squeeze, crunch

Beyond being for single payer universal health...

I think a price gouging investigation of the health industry and insurance companies is long overdue.

This is complete BS, there is no way the true cost is rising this fast and health care is already a national crisis.

[ramapo]

3. Single payer??

What and get rid of the bloated insurance bureucracy that rakes in billions of dollars of year servicing our claims?

This communist-like, socialistic plot was already foiled once by groups keen to save our right to pay higher and higher costs each year.

BTW, don't blame the employer. We've just had an increase of nearly 20% over last year. We cover majority of the cost of coverage but at some point you have to pass along the increase.

And don't worry anyway. Today's inflation report stated that inflation was in check with little to no increase in costs over last month.

[Trillo]

6. Its all the corporations, the big ones at least.

Single payer might be one interim solution. By itself, single payer will also at some point in the future be undermined by the executive class. Consequently an investigation would seem to in order, but when the corporatist criminals are passing graft to each other, how objective, comprehensive, and just would that investigation be?

It seems like so many of these problems would rebalance if the basic issue of poverty was substantially addressed. There's something very wrong when much of the working poor can't pay their bills without a 70hr+ workweek in multiple part-time jobs, and when the professional class are the only ones who maintain a tenuous middle class grip: while the CEOs live like absolute kings.

[indepat]

4. Wanna bet that those extra employee costs reduce take-home pay

but it will not show up in the inflation figures although employees will have fewer dollars to spend elsewhere. Gee, ain't it wonnerful?

[marmar]

5. It just seems elementary at this point...

Universal health care would benefit everyone - citizens, employers etc. Everyone except health care corporations, who would fight it to no end.

[cliss]

7. More? How in the crap are we supposed to

take on more cost? We're overburdened as it is.

I think I need to leave the U.S. We're a sinking ship. I'd like to go to Sweden, where they have medical and dental provided for their citizens.

[sarcasmo]

9. Canada has free health care, but with everything free there is a catch.

The health care is a little slow.

[spinbaby]

10. Our health care is a LOT slow

Just try to get an appointment with a specialist.

[sarcasmo]

11. Yes I know. It will be three weeks for my wife to see a back specialist.

How could Canada be any worse.

[sarcasmo]

8. Would be nice to do a DU poll on how many actually have health care.

My guess would be less than half here on DU have health care benefits.

[Skarbrowe]

12. My health insurance will be $1100 a month Jan.1 I need an operation that

probably won't be able to be done until after the insurance that I now pay runs out December 31st. I can't do $1100 a month. That's insane. I've been advised to go the VA since I am a vet, although a peacetime vet. This is a rare operation and I'm not sure I want the VA surgeons. Anyone know if the VA docs and hospitals are, uh, safe? I don't even know if they'll see me. I guess I shouldn't be so choosey. If I wasn't bright enough and healthy enough to be rich, I should just drop over dead. heh

I'm a bit bitter at the moment. I'll get over it.

[bemildred]

13. Just drop the "health insurance". Stop giving them money.

Buy direct.