Health Care Costs Rise for Families in Employer Plans

For an average family enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan, the cost of medical care, including insurance premiums, will reach $15,609 this year -- up $1,109, or 7.5%, from 2007 -- according to an analysis from the actuaries at Milliman. While the increase is higher than general inflation by a few percentage points, the rise in health care costs is the lowest in five years, according to Milliman.

• "Shifting Health Costs Pinch Family Budgets" (Fuhrmans, Wall Street Journal's "Health Blog," 5/14).