Healthcare In Crisis: Many Struggling with Healthcare Costs

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Many Struggling with Healthcare Costs

As the cost of healthcare in America rises across the board, out of pocket expenses for the insured is rising. too. The average person paid $400 in health care deductibles last year. That's up from $250 in 2003. A new study suggests you should get ready to shell out even more. We'll all be paying the price. As the price tag goes up for employers, they get passed down to employees.

Paul Duguay, Deputy Director: "We would prefer to see some other ways of cutting health care costs rather than seeing employees be saddled with out of pocket expenses."

Paul Duguay with the Michigan Association of Health Plans says better technology and higher prescription drug costs are the driving forces driving up the cost of health care. The study suggests 60% of companies will make their employees pay more out of pocket.

Paul Duguay: "That cost shifting is in the form of higher deductibles and co-pays, generally speaking."

So they can pay less. While Duguay says this will make health care more affordable for employers, he says it will make it less affordable for those who need health care the most. Duguay says pushing health organizations to create better benefit plans will help companies and employees save money, but until that happens, we'll all pay more for the health care we need. How much more will you're health care cost? The survey by the Mercer Consulting Firm predicts a 5.7% increase next year. That's the same as this year's jump and slightly less than the 6.1% hike in 2007.

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1 comment:

Tammi Diaz said...: We need HR676 SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE PEOPLE NOT PROFIT. FAMILY VALUES.

I have Blog Healthcare & Disabilities
http://www.catmeow1962.blogspot.com; September 10, 2008

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Statistics Collection

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