Study: Health Insurance Premiums on the Rise for California Families
Health insurance costs for a typical California family have more than doubled since 2000, according to a Families USA study released Tuesday, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The study found that the average premium cost for California workers with family coverage has reached $13,026, an increase of $6,799 since 2000.
Meanwhile, median earnings of California workers rose by about 25% to $32,304 during the same period, the report found.
Investigators also noted that 63% of U.S. companies offered health benefits in 2008, down from 69% in 2000. The study found that small businesses were most likely to drop coverage.
Families USA officials say the findings underscore the importance of enacting national health care reform (Calvan, Sacramento Bee, 9/16). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.