Are private companies raising premiums for their employees?
A. Yes. Recent surveys show that employers are paying an average of $9,144 per employee for health insurance in 2008 up 6 percent from 2007. Employees cover $2,064 of that – an increase of 8 percent from last year. And within the past five years, employer health insurance costs have risen 40 percent, while employee health insurance costs are up 60 percent. What’s more, 40 percent of companies surveyed in a nationwide study said they plan to increase employees’ contributions for health benefits in 2008, and 36 percent say they will increase deductibles and copayments.
