Workers' insurance premiums estimated to rise 12%

[The Straight Story]

Workers' insurance premiums estimated to rise 12%

It's that time of year when your employer gives you a stack of papers and asks you to pick a health-insurance plan.

Some find the charts and graphs too confusing and simply go with what they had the previous year. Others go with what a co-worker recommends.

But experts say this year, more than ever, you should read through the paperwork.

Not only are health premiums expected to increase an average of 12 percent next year in Ohio, but employers are shifting more of these costs to their workers.

Many also can expect higher co-pays, deductibles and more-expensive prescription drugs in plans offered by employers.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/01/enroll.html?sid=101

[w4rma]

1. Is this the result of stockholders demanding more return on their investment? (nt)

[The Straight Story]

2. Medical costs:

"The higher premiums are a result of medical costs that are expected to increase 9 percent next year, according to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers."

[Lithos]

3. What you didn't say

Was that the insurance companies are wanting an additional 3% profit (9+3 = 12)

L-

[The Straight Story]

5. Agree with that, the quote was from the article (nt)

[w4rma]

4. "Medical costs" can include stockholders of non-insurance companies you know. (nt)

[eridani]

6. Oh, but there's a strongly worded statement in the "reform" bill

--that insists on "review and disclosure of insurance rate increases." Can someone explain how this is going to "discourage excessive price increases by insurance companies"? Would that be like Conyers getting Rove et al to appear for Judicial Committee hearings by sending them strongly worded letters demanding that they appear?

[Skittles]

7. the reform is a fucking scam

there was never any intent to control costs

[ixion]

8. spot on, that

it is, in essence, a thinly-veiled 'stimulus' for insurance companies and Big Med.

[TexasObserver]

9. Recommend

[Blue State Blues]

10. Buying Congress is expensive.

Poor companies got to get by somehow.

[CrispyQ]

11. +1

And that is the fucking truth!