Workers' health insurance costs soar

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

By Lisa Girion

If gas and milk price hikes seem steep, check out health insurance premiums. They have increased 10 times faster than incomes in recent years, a study shows.

Workers with job-based coverage for their families saw earnings rise 3% from 2001 to 2005, while their health insurance premium contribution increased 30%, according to the study by researchers at the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota.

The average cost nationally of family coverage during the period increased nearly $2,500, to $10,728 from $8,281. The average cost for job-based family coverage in California increased more than $2,650, to $10,551 from $7,898.

"Providing insurance coverage takes a bigger bite from the family budget every year," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which helped fund the research.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure30apr30,0,1869505.story

[Juche]

1. Unsustainable obviously

There is now way we can keep this up with stagnant wage growth and people also being crushed by higher food, fuel, education and real estate costs.

FTR, HR 676 would be paid for with a mix of progressive tax hikes, repealing the Bush tax cuts and a 3.3% payroll tax.

In between repealing the Bush tax cut and the 3.3% payroll tax a middle class family may only have to spend $3000/yr in healthcare. The rest would come from progressive taxes or employer taxes.

[pattmarty]

2. It's really a shame.........

..........that even if Obama or Clinton is elected with 60 Dems in the Senate and large gains in the House, that we will only end up getting a half assed "industry" single payer/universal healthcare system in this country. The powers that be are have become way too entrenched over the past 35 yrs to overcome. It will take a MAJOR catastrophe like the great depression to bring about a new "New Deal".

[OhioChick]

3. Dems hedge on healthcare

Congressional Democrats are backing away from healthcare reform promises made by their two presidential candidates, saying that even if their party controls the White House and Congress, sweeping change will be difficult.

It is still seven months before Election Day, but already senior Democrats are maneuvering to lower public expectations on the key policy issue.

In the back of their minds is the damage done to President Bush’s second term by his failed attempts to change the nation’s Social Security policy.

For some senators, the promises made by Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) outside of Washington may not match the political reality on Capitol Hill.
...
“Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan,” Schumer said.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-hedge-on-healthcare-2008-04-23.html

Courtesy of a thread started by "antigop." :)

[LibDemAlways]

5. The Schumer comment is just sickening. Sounds all

too much like a repuke.

Since Schumer doesn't feel the US is ready for a "major national healthcare plan," perhaps he'd like to give up the taxpayer supported coverage he enjoys, and join the rest of the 47 million uninsured.

[roamer65]

4. COBRA makes one realize just how expensive it is.

Luckily I did not have to enroll in my old job's COBRA. I don't know how a family of 3 or 4 could even afford it.

[Delphinus]

6. I hope to make it through this year.

If something doesn't shift soon, though, I'll have to drop my coverage. Only have had it for two years, after seven without. Probably need to get everything taken care of soon.

[Vinca]

7. Everyone in this country needs to know John McCain's

healthcare "plan," which removes the tax deduction for health insurance from employers and, instead, gives individuals $5,000 to buy their own policy. Everyone will be in line behind me, trying desperately to find affordable healthcare that isn't a scam. I'm in year 4 of no insurance because it can't be done. Not that either Democratic plan is so wonderful either. We need single payer, universal care that doesn't reward the insurance companies that caused this tragedy in the first place.