Average costs will likely rise 6 percent to $9,120 in 2010, up from just over $8,600 in this year. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs will also rise 10 percent while the average salary will only increase 1.8 percent (Mincer, 10/18).
CNN Money reports that other factors including an aging of the population, more technology use in medicine and government cost-shifting will drive up rates, according to analysts.
Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health "said companies have been shifting over the past five years from a co-pay, a flat dollar fee ranging between $10 and $35 that employees pay at each doctor visit, to a to co-insurance model. With co-insurance, employees pay a percentage of the total medical expense.
Experts say co-insurance rates are typically split 80-20 or 70-30 between the health plan and the insured worker." Other changes include an increasing reliance on things like health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts and a surcharge on your premiums if you have a working spouse who can get other health care coverage (Kavilanz, 10/19).
Source: Kaiser Health News
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