Paychecks in Pa. lag rising health-care costs
HARRISBURG (AP) — A new study shows family health-care premiums have grown more than five times faster than income this decade in Pennsylvania.
Families USA said today that health insurance premiums rose by 95 percent, while median earnings rose less than 18 percent from 2000 to 2009.
The Washington, D.C.-based group says employers have responded to soaring health-care costs by switching to plans with less coverage and requiring employees to pay higher deductibles and co-payments for their care.
Families USA says the average annual family health insurance premium nearly doubled to $13,000 in the last decade in Pennsylvania.
Over that period, the portion of health-care premiums paid by individuals and families increased at a faster rate than the portion paid by businesses.