With workers’ wages flat-lining, the economic struggle for Americans and business owners in 2011 has been exacerbated by soaring health insurance premiums.
So far in 2011 the average cost of a family health plan has gone up 9% over last year, while wages went up only 2%. Health care costs for employers have gone up almost 7% in 2011. In 2010, the average premium rose only 3%.
Premiums for family plans have reached $15,073 on average, almost double what they were in 2001. Coverage for single employees jumped 8% this year, to $5,429.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky