Growth Rate in Health Cost to Employers Slowed in '04

[Rose Siding]

After years of double-digit cost increases, the rate of growth in what employers pay for employee health insurance slowed significantly this year, according to an annual survey to be released today.

The average employer cost for health benefits for an employee rose 7.5 percent in 2004, to $6,679, the lowest increase since 1999 in a survey of about 3,000 employers by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Employers faced average increases of 10.1 percent in 2003.

But this slowing rate was largely the result of employers shifting more of the cost onto their employees and changing the kinds of plans they offer, said Barry Schilmeister, a senior health care consultant for Mercer.
........
Higher out-of-pocket costs for employees may also be slowing costs by discouraging workers from getting care, Mr. Schilmeister said. Small employers with fewer than 500 employees have been aggressive in shifting costs by raising deductibles and co-payments; these companies saw average cost increases of 5.5 percent in 2004. Many employers now offer plans that require deductibles of $1,000 or more.

http://nytimes.com/2004/11/22/business/22care.html

[Gloria]

1. Glad to see Bush is on the job with this one! Nothing like a

tax proposal ELIMINATING the deduction for health insurance costs to employers!!! YUP, just the RIGHT MOVE!!!!

Totally opposite of what Kerry proposed, of course. Kerry was looking to expand deductions, among other innovative pieces.