By Cathy Schoen, M.S., Ashley-Kay Fryer, Sara R. Collins, Ph.D., and David C. Radley, Ph.D., M.P.H.
The Commonwealth Fund, November 17, 2011

INCREASE IN PREMIUMS

Click on this link:
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/site_docs/slideshows/PremiumTrends2011/PremiumTrends2011.html

You will see an interactive map of “Employer Premiums as Percentage of Median Household Income for Under-65 Population, 2003 and 2010”

Near the top of the page, slowly drag the slider from 2003 to 2010.

In dark blue you now see the states in which employer health insurance premiums average over 20% of median household income. Over 20%! In 2010, 62% of the population lived in states where total premiums amounted to 20% or more of middle incomes!

A static slide of this change, showing the U.S. side by side in 2003 and 2010, can be downloaded at this link (slide number 2):
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/Nov/State%20Trends/PDF_Schoen_state_trends_premiums_deductibles_2003_2010_exhibits.pdf

INCREASE IN DEDUCTIBLES

In slide 4 at the same link, you will see that, in 2010, average deductibles for employer sponsored plans are $1,025 for a single-person plan and $1,975 for a family plan, nearly double that of 2003.

For the full Commonwealth Fund report, “State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003–2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs”:
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/Nov/State%20Trends/1561_Schoen_state_trends_premiums_deductibles_2003_2010.pdf

Comment: 

By Don McCanne, MD

More people receive their health insurance through their work than from any other source. The costs of employer-sponsored plans have been skyrocketing, as demonstrated by the increase in premiums. The coverage has eroded, as demonstrated by the increase in deductibles. The Office of the Actuary has predicted that “private insurance spending per person will increase faster than public programs over the next decade.” Yet the Affordable Care Act failed to provide measures which would have any significant impact on these trends in employer-sponsored plans.

Let’s restart the reform process, but this time let’s do it right. Let’s have only single payer at the table.

State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003–2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs

By Cathy Schoen, M.S., Ashley-Kay Fryer, Sara R. Collins, Ph.D., and David C. Radley, Ph.D., M.P.H.
The Commonwealth Fund, November 17, 2011

INCREASE IN PREMIUMS

Click on this link:
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/site_docs/slideshows/PremiumTrends2011/PremiumTrends2011.html

You will see an interactive map of “Employer Premiums as Percentage of Median Household Income for Under-65 Population, 2003 and 2010”

Near the top of the page, slowly drag the slider from 2003 to 2010.

In dark blue you now see the states in which employer health insurance premiums average over 20% of median household income. Over 20%! In 2010, 62% of the population lived in states where total premiums amounted to 20% or more of middle incomes!

A static slide of this change, showing the U.S. side by side in 2003 and 2010, can be downloaded at this link (slide number 2):
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/Nov/State%20Trends/PDF_Schoen_state_trends_premiums_deductibles_2003_2010_exhibits.pdf

INCREASE IN DEDUCTIBLES

In slide 4 at the same link, you will see that, in 2010, average deductibles for employer sponsored plans are $1,025 for a single-person plan and $1,975 for a family plan, nearly double that of 2003.

For the full Commonwealth Fund report, “State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003–2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs”:
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/Nov/State%20Trends/1561_Schoen_state_trends_premiums_deductibles_2003_2010.pdf

More people receive their health insurance through their work than from any other source. The costs of employer-sponsored plans have been skyrocketing, as demonstrated by the increase in premiums. The coverage has eroded, as demonstrated by the increase in deductibles. The Office of the Actuary has predicted that “private insurance spending per person will increase faster than public programs over the next decade.” Yet the Affordable Care Act failed to provide measures which would have any significant impact on these trends in employer-sponsored plans.

Let’s restart the reform process, but this time let’s do it right. Let’s have only single payer at the table.