The Detroit News: Health insurance customers face big premium increases

[marmar]

Health insurance customers face big premium increases
Get set for higher co-pays, fewer benefits, changes in Medicare

Christina Rogers / The Detroit News


With open enrollment season in full swing, seniors and privately insured workers should expect to shell out more next year for their health coverage, as many employers face double-digit increases in their insurance costs.

To offset this rising expense, some employers will pass all or part of the cost increases onto workers through larger paycheck deductions. For some workers, that could mean as much as a 50 percent increase in their monthly payroll deductions for health care, insurance experts say.

Companies also are eliminating some benefits and increasing co-payments on drugs, emergency room visits and doctors' visits to keep workplace health insurance affordable after being socked year after year by premium increases, insurance brokers and benefits consultants say.

"This has been a particularly bad year," said Bryan Hirn, area president for Gallagher Benefit Solutions in Bingham Farms. In years past, the percentage increases for premiums would typically hover in the single digits in Michigan. Now, those increases are hitting the high teens, he said, as more people get laid off and companies have to spread the cost over fewer workers.

Workers, however, aren't the only ones being hit by larger out-of-pocket expenses. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.detnews.com/article/20091116/LIFESTYLE03/911160344/1040/Health-insurance-customers-face-big-premium-increases

[Bitwit1234]

1. So one more thing to bolster

a Health Care Program for this country.