Economic Report: Family Heath Insurance Premiums Average $13,375 Per Year

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12015

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on September 22, 2009 - 4:50pm

Economic Report:

Job based health insurance costs are on the rise for both employees and employers. Family premiums were up by 5 percent this year hitting an average of $13,375 annually. Employees on average cover $3,515 of the cost for the coverage according to the survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. Over the past 10 years family coverage has jumped by 131 percent and contributions by workers increased by 128 percent.

[On the Road]

1. This is a Huge, Enormous Issue

with mandated insurance. Not to be a Cassandra, but this is going to cause an earthquake, especially in working-class areas. This is not car insurance. It just isn't going to happen that families are going to start taking on this additional expense.

If the current bill is the only way forward, it will be a difficult road. Perhaps it will hasten single-payer. But it might trigger a backlash and a repeal.