Employers shifting health-care costs to workers, survey shows

Washington Post ^ | 9/2/10 | David S. Hilzenrath

[kabar]

Duh! Why should employers absorb the costs? Why are they in business?

[Clock King]

You employers better not... or Obama will sue.

Nope, he won't sue. This will give the Marxist the excuse he needs to force the "public option" on EVERYBODY. "See, the free market can't work."

[jeffc]

I worked for a small company from 87 to 01. When I started, they paid all of the healthcare costs of an employee and his family! It was a "Cadillac" if insurance coverage, too, health, dental, optical, drug rider, all the bennies. By 01, when I left, they were only paying half of the employee's coverage and none for "family". I hear now that they don't pay any of it at all. The cost of healthcare and doing business (taxes, etc.) destroys the margin left over for employee bennies. Many years ago, just to get good people, companies had to offer some kind of health care coverage. Now, the pendulum has swung away, and companies can get away with not offering coverage as an incentive.

[Terry Mross]

A lady called Rush the other day and said their premiums had gone up $1,800 a year and their deductive went so high they can’t afford to go to the doctor.

I got an advertising circular mailed to me from a doctor my wife went to over a year ago. They’re hurting for “business”. My cardiologist said he’s going to lose 30% the first year.

This is going to get worse. And I have no hope the republicans will do anything about it if they take the majority. The government’s goal is total single payer government run healthcare.

[Grumpybutt]

The company my hubby works for that is a "self insured" company sent out a memo last week. Coverage for dependents until they are 26 would be allowed and lifetime caps are gone. It went on to say they don't know yet how much premiums will go up but they have a team working on it and that memo will be out soon.

I'm so excited! I just can't wait to see how much more we'll be paying. /s