Many Employers to Raise Cost of Health Benefits, Survey Finds

Source: Washington Post

Many Employers to Raise Cost of Health Benefits, Survey Finds

By David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Though Americans who already have medical coverage may be wary of change, a new survey indicates that they may be hard-pressed to escape it -- even in the absence of health-care reform. As businesses contend with rising costs, many workers face an erosion of health benefits next year, according to an annual survey released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Forty percent of employers surveyed said they are likely to increase the amount their workers pay out of pocket for doctor visits. Almost as many said they are likely to raise annual deductibles and the amount workers pay for prescription drugs.

Nine percent said they plan to tighten eligibility for health benefits; 8 percent said they plan to drop coverage entirely. Forty-one percent of employers said they are "somewhat" or "very" likely to increase the amount employees pay in premiums -- though that would not necessarily mean employees would pay a higher percentage of the premiums. Employers could simply be passing along the same share of the overall increase that they are doing this year.

The authors of the study said the findings underscore the need for federal action to rein in costs.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/15/AR2009091501175.html?nav=hcmodule

guess they'll show us

my co-pays will triple this year. from $15 to $50 to see a specialist.

THEY are trying to kill us all in a very real way!
this is inexcusable for a civilized country to still be treating it's people!
*sigh* we fight, we claw, we do everything you're supposed to do in a democracy, and to what end?

until next year to see what they go up to (sarcasm). Wonder what they'll be doing with premiums...

Not too much for the employee themself, but if they have dependents, watch out.

That's the real competition the private insurance companies need to get them to bring down their prices.

Open up Medicare now.

Phase in 50+ next year and more the following years.

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...

no matter how many times I say this it just never gets old!