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Health Care Costs Rise Twice as Much as Inflation |
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From New York Times: A widely followed national survey reported yesterday that the cost of employee health care coverage rose 7.7 percent this year, more than double the overall inflation rate and well ahead of the increase in the incomes of workers. Since 2000, the cost of family coverage has risen 87 percent while consumer prices are up 18 percent and the pay of workers has increased 20 percent, the survey noted. Despite the increasing costs, about 6 out of 10 employers still offer health coverage to attract and retain workers. But the growth in premiums is making it harder and harder for companies to raise wages and salaries. The national cost trend would probably have been higher, analysts said, but regulators in a number of states were able to push nonprofit Blue Cross plans that are prosperous to hold down their increases, at least for a while.
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