Employers Turning To High-Deductible Plans To Relieve Pressure From Increased Costs
In 2006, less than 5 percent of workers were enrolled in high-deductible plans. This year it's 29 percent.
San Francisco Business Times:
Bay Area Small Business Squeezed By Increased Healthcare Costs
While it’s true that premium rate increases since the advent of Obamacare have remained low in employer-funded health plans, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to market pressures pushing up health care costs and many businesses have turned to employees to make up the gap in the form of higher deductibles. “There has been a tremendous increase in higher deductible plans in the past 10 years,” said Micah Weinberg, the president of the Bay Area Economic Council. “The cost of prescription drugs is driving higher premiums more than anything else, but the first thing you find out when you look closely at health care costs is that everything is the reason.” The numbers bear out. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation less than 5 percent of workers were enrolled in high-deductible plans in 2006. This year, the number is 29 percent. (Truong, 11/4)