Healthcare Education and Q&A Thread

[JoeRedskin]

In 2008, the average cost of insurance premiums for employer based policies was $3,400.00.

"Growth in health insurance premiums is far outstripping inflation and wages. Many employers have been forced to pass on premium increases to workers. Workers on average pay 27 percent of the premium. If workers continue to pay that percentage, by the end of 2009, employees, on average, will pay nearly $4,000 annually for their share of health insurance premiums.

The average employee contribution for family health insurance premiums increased 120 percent between 1999 and 2008 to $3400 annually. And average out-of-pocket expenses for deductibles, coinsurance and copayments have increased 115 percent over the same period. Salaries have only increased 34 percent during this period."

http://www.nchc.org/documents/Costs-Workers-2009.pdf