Health insurance costs for many Americans this year rose more sharply than in previous years, beyond any wage growth and add further uncertainty about the pace of rising medical costs.
A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit research group that tracks employer-sponsored health insurance on an annual basis, shows that the average annual premium for family coverage through employer reached $ 15,073 in 2011, up 9 percent from the previous year, including rising quite dramatically.
"Open question is whether it's a one-time spike or the beginning of a period of rising higher," said Drew Altman, chief executive of the Kaiser foundation.
Many businessmen, citing the high cost of coverage as a factor in their decision not to employ, and health insurance are becoming increasingly affordable for more Americans. Over all, the cost of family coverage has roughly doubled since 2001, when the average premium of $ 7,061, compared with 34 percent wage advantage over the same period.
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