The findings of an Aon Hewitt study are showing that the average per-employee cost for health insurance will increase beyond the $10,000 mark in 2012, regardless of the fact that costs are rising more slowly than the current 2011 rate of 7.5 percent.
The rate for healthcare premiums is expected to increase by 7 percent, but the actual cost of premiums for each employee is forecasted to be over $10,400. When compared to the 2010 figure of less than $9,800, the 2012 is notably higher. Workers will be responsible for paying about 22 percent, that is, just over $2,300. This is a touch more than the 21.3 percent from 2011, which equated to $2,084.
Aon Hewitt executive vice president and Americas practice director their Health & Benefits, John Zern, said that within this stumbling and unpredictable economic atmosphere, businesses aren’t able to afford the cost of health insurance when they continue to rise by 7 percent with every year.
He went on to say that though there is some systemic change potential for the health care reform in upcoming years, for now, “employers will continue to shift cost to employees in order to keep company costs to a manageable level.”
Employees who find that the costs are too high with their employers may discover that they can find more affordable options if they seek health insurance themselves. There are many different choices available and they may be able to find one that is better suited to their needs. Along with supplemental health insurance plans that employees can purchase on their own in order to fill in the gaps of a high deductible health plan.