A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Health Care Costs Rise


Posted: Sep 12, 2012

While annual health care premiums for job-based family plans rose a seemingly respectable 4 percent this year, premiums averaged $15,745, with employees picking up more than $4,300 of that tab, according to an annual employer survey released Sept. 11.

 According to an Associated Press report, the costs are a reminder that the U.S.’s struggle with unaffordable medical care is still significant.

 Overall, "it's historically a very moderate increase in premiums," said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which conducted the survey with the Health Research & Educational Trust.

 He quickly added: "But even a moderate increase feels really big to workers when their wages are flat or falling."

 General inflation rose only 2.3 percent, by comparison.

“ ... Even a moderate increase feels really big to workers when their wages are flat or falling. The rise in premiums easily outpaced workers’ raises and inflation,”Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which conducted the survey with the Health Research & Educational Trust said.

The Kaiser survey shows premiums for job-based family coverage have risen by nearly $2,400 since 2009, with a corresponding increase of nearly $800 for employee-only coverage.

 The survey also found that employees at companies with lower-wage workers pay more money for thinner insurance than what their counterparts at higher-wage paying firms get.

 Gaining traction: A growing majority of U.S. companies offer account-based health plans — plans with a high deductible, coupled with an employee personal account that can be used to a portion of non-covered medical expenses.

Source: TowersWatson

;

As you are not insured and have major health issues... - Obama2012

[ In Reply To ..]
Who is paying for your surgeries, radiation, and other treatments? Are we, the taxpayers who spend our hard-earned money and purchase insurance, responsible for covering your costs? How is this fair? Why shouldn't we have Universal Healthcare so people like us are not responsible for paying health costs for people like you?

If you are talking about me, I am paying my expenses. - backwards typist

[ In Reply To ..]
Didn't qualify for MA. Not old enough for MC. So I have to pay. Too bad I couldn't afford health insurance after I lost my job. Guess that's my fault.

according to romney, it is your fault - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
There is always private insurance. People always spend everything and not put away anything for a rainy day. How much does Suze Orman say to put awway, 9 months? I am sick of hearing about people using the emergency room for their "free" care. We should all pay what we can afford and all have care.

Answers - Dara

[ In Reply To ..]
Under Obamacare, we the taxpayers will be "paying for your surgeries, radiation, and other treatments." Under Obamacare, "people like us" will be responsible for covering everyone's health costs.

The govt. has no money to pay for this other than what they take from taxpayers.

Similar Messages:


Medicare Part D Costs Will Rise By 3% According To The CBOMar 19, 2010
  http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11355/Comparison.pdf ...

Health Care Reform-Question About Canadian Health CareDec 03, 2009
So....a friend is for our US health care reform (already retired and on Medicare) because he had no trouble going to Canada to get laser surgery on his eyes so he wouldn't have to wear glasses and states there is nothing wrong with the Canadian system....but, and I'm asking a serious question here, how long do people really wait for emergent surgery if they belong to the Canadian system versus the American system as we have it now? How did Canada get their health care system up and ru ...

Big Jump Seen In Health Costs For Employees Oct 14, 2009
As companies begin unveiling their workplace benefits for next year, many employees are learning they will have to dig even deeper into their pockets for health coverage. Such price increases have become a fact of life during open-enrollment season, when workers sign up for their health plans. But the jump is expected to be steeper in 2010 than this year, as employers struggle with the impact of the recession and continually rising insurance costs. Employees will pay $4,023 on average in premiu ...

My Health Insurance Costs More Than My Tax BillApr 14, 2011
I added up my federal, state, and property taxes.  If I was paying the full cost of my health insurance (employer shares cost), my taxes would be about $3,000 LESS than the cost of my health insurance.  I get a of a lot more for my tax dollars than I do from my health iinsurance.   But, I am so glad I am paying all that so the insurance CEOs can afford gas, car payments, and nice vacations.  ...

Health Care Reform Repeal Would Rob 4-Year-Old Jackson Whaley Of Health Security Jun 15, 2012
What happens when your ailing son is about to exhaust a lifetime of health insurance benefits before his third birthday? Kelly Whaley came dangerously close to finding out...... ...

Health Insurance Is A Poor Measure Of Health Care.Sep 14, 2011
On Tuesday, the Census Bureau released its annual report on health insurance coverage in the United States. News media widely misconstrued the data and presented the problems facing the nation's health care system through a distorted lens. Many major news outlets made a basic error when reporting on the Census Bureau study. The Los Angeles Times wrote that "the number of Americans with no health insurance rose in 2010 to 49.9 million from 49 million the year before." But the figure c ...

Charity Health CareOct 15, 2009
In response to Keith O's idea of conducting free health care clinics in the states of dem legislators who are reluctant to support health care reform, progressives have donated $600,000 so far.  The clinics are being scheduled.  Dr. Oz is one of the many health care volunteers.  Progressives put their money where their mouths are.    ...

Health Care StoryOct 18, 2009
Got this email today: Hey there,I just heard a story that you need to hear too:  A few years ago, Melanie Shouse was living the American dream when she transformed an old Dominos storefront into an expansion of her home business. But just as the store was opening, Melanie was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and given months to live.Melanie had insurance, and she went straight to the experts at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Working with the world-renowned doctors there, she� ...

Health Care BillNov 20, 2009
BREAKING: Full List of Tax HikesIn Senate Democrat Health Bill From Ryan Ellis on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:46 PM Read the full bill Read the tax revenue score from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) Read the budget and tax score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) PDF of this Document Individual Mandate Tax (Page 324/Sec. 1501/$8 bil): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the following ...

Prayer For Health CareNov 24, 2009
A dear friend of mine shared a prayer she wrote for health care and was kind enough to give me permission to share it here with all of you.  She makes some very poignant points that I feel should be shared.  Here goes: Prayer for Health Care Lord, we know that you must be aggrieved at the thought of so many people in the world who suffer from denial of access to the healing arts.  As a Healer Yourself, You showed unconditional compassion to so many of us humans who desperately n ...

Health Care IdeaDec 03, 2009
Perhaps they should link it directly to Social Security.  make the plan optional, but if you decided against participation in the reform plan, you are automatically dropped from future Social Security payments.  If you are so dead certain that health care reform is socialism, you can make your stand by not taking social security.   ...

Health Care Bill Mar 20, 2010
x ...

Maxine On Health CareMar 29, 2010
Senior Health Care Solution So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do?  Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets.  You are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives.  Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need!  New teeth, no problem.  Need glasses, great.  New hip, knees, kidney, ...

The Rage Is Not About Health Care Mar 29, 2010
By FRANK RICH Published: March 27, 2010 THERE were times when last Sunday’s great G.O.P. health care implosion threatened to bring the thrill back to reality television. On ABC’s “This Week,” a frothing and filibustering Karl Rove all but lost it in a debate with the Obama strategist David Plouffe. A few hours later, the perennially copper-faced Republican leader John Boehner revved up his “Hell no, you can’t!” incantation in the House chamber — ...

Health Care ComplaintsApr 30, 2014
If our elected "representatives" (you know who you are) had cooperated instead of fighting tooth and nail against, the ACA could have been more to your liking.  Our beloved president did the best he could against the irrational opposition. It is a beginning. Praise the bama.   ...

Health Care Spending Up 9.9%May 01, 2014
This is the biggest spike in health care spending since 1980 and not just reported by "Faux" News (hate to disappoint y'all)... Take your pick of links: http://news.investors.com/politics-obamacare/043014-698989-gdp-01-gain-health-care-spending-jumps-on-obamacare.htm http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140430/NEWS/304309965/reform-update-new-economic-data-suggest-spike-in-health-spending http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2014/5/1/health-care-spending-up-by-99-reach ...

The Unaffordable Health Care ActMar 17, 2017
I am now paying 3 times the amount I was paying for insurance premiums only 3 months ago.  I'm making 1/3 of what I made 15 years ago.  I am literally working for minimum wage.  Something has to change or I'm joining the millions of people, including illegal immigrants and people who refuse to work, to get my free insurance, too (which I'm now paying for). ...

We Need Universal Health Care.Jun 23, 2017
I know Obamacare needs some fixes--at least it was a step in the right direction.  I am still doing reports where people are in the acute care hospital setting because they did not take their maintenance medications for hypertension and diabetes, etc. I do not know why they let their Medicaid lapse, but they are in crisis. How much does a prescription for BP meds cost versus the hospital stay + rehab for stoke patients? How much does insulin and blood testing cost versus blindness, ampu ...

The Top 10 Stupid Things Said About Health CareOct 15, 2009
By Ken Kupchik Stupid things are always said in politics, whether it's to curry favor with ill-informed constituents, or because a politician is a missing filter between his brain and mouth. Based on the level of discourse during the recent health care debate, it appears that the far right possessed the lion's share of stupid comments. Here is the cream of the crap: 10) Sarah Palin temporarily came out of book-writing reclusion to claim that a health-care overhaul would create "dea ...

Common Sense Health Care Nov 05, 2009
Common Sense Health Care our Nation can afford. - This makes sense to me.   The American people have spoken. They oppose government-run health care.  Republicans are on the side of the American people. What Americans want are common-sense, responsible solutions that address the rising cost of health care and other major problems. In the national Republican address on Saturday, October 31, 2009, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) discussed Republicans’ plan for common- ...

Well This Is Something To Be Hopefull For - Health Care BillNov 23, 2009
Support for health care bill falls to new low http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform   And say what you want about Sen. Joe Liberman, but he is earning my respect.    Ms. Lincoln even stated  she was "shocked by the “unbelievable type of threats” she had received.".  As I was thinking this morning I wonder how many will be threatned if they don't vote for it. ...

How To Achieve Affordable Health CareDec 23, 2009
Despite all the hubbub about health care, the United States can have affordable health care tomorrow if we want it. There have been real solutions available, solutions that have been right under our noses for decased,but you don't often hear about them and the prospects of getting them are rather grim unless the public is apprised of them. Today's debates and town hall meetings have not been about reducting the overall cost of health care, but about who's going to pay for it. See ...

Judge Rules Out Health Care LawDec 13, 2010
This is good news.  Now if politicians could just make health care affordable for all.  I'd love the same rates as someone in Idaho or other states have.  Make health insurance competitive, they have to accept pre-existing conditions and nobody could ever be refused health care and I think that would be a great way for a new year.  But forcing people to buy a product they don't want is just not right and I'm glad this judge saw how unconstitutional it is. &nbs ...

After The Griping About Not Televising Health CareFeb 14, 2010
These people are ONLY interested in making Obama look bad, not in the american people.  This is beyond stupid.  http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-11-2010/the-apparent-trap ...

Republicans Just Don't Understand Health CareNov 16, 2010
  ...

Interesting Video On Health CareMay 25, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJIC7kEq6kw&feature=youtu.be   This guy makes a lot of sense to me. ...

Ah, Yes...British-style Health Care.Mar 09, 2010
This is the kind of thing you get when the government muddles around in the health care system - and it will be coming to a government database near you soon! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7408379/Patients-medical-records-go-online-without-consent.html ...

Fraud In Health Care SystemMar 13, 2010
It is estimated that there is at least 100 billion dollars health care fraud annually.  There are truly needy people and they should be helped.  But there are also many people who don't have health insurance because they just do not want to pay premiums, use their money for other things instead, when they could pay and are able to pay.  This is just not right and this needs to be stopped, and that should make a dent in health care costs.  Why not go after the health care ...

Good News In Health CareOct 26, 2010
Health care employment rose by 24,000 in September.  The increase was concentrated in ambulatory health care services (+17,000). Health care employment has risen by an average of 21,000 per month this year.   http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf ...

IRS Will Enforce Health Care Bill Mar 19, 2010
CBO estimates IRS will need nearly 17,000 new agents to look for people who don't buy a government-mandated insurance policy. This is basically going to be another reason to audit tax returns, and people who don't comply will essentially be treated like tax evaders with the IRS using its "normal" powers of enforcement by levyings fines, penalties and liens against bank accounts, seizing property, etc. And, assuming that the IRS will fold this into its usual enforcement operations, ...