Health costs rising faster than incomes, study says

[UpInArms]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-09-27-healthcare-usat_x.htm

WASHINGTON — Health insurance premiums paid by U.S. workers have risen nearly three times faster than average earnings in the past four years, eroding the income of average Americans, a study based on federal data shows.

Premium costs for private health insurance coverage grew 35.9% from 2000 to 2004. Average individual earnings grew 12.4%, the study found. Those findings are similar to those of other non-partisan groups, such as the Kaiser Family Foundation, and government agencies, including the Commerce Department.

As health premiums consume a growing share of earnings, more Americans are spending a major portion of their annual incomes on health care. During the same four-year period, the number of Americans whose health care costs exceed one-fourth of their earnings rose to 14.3 million from 11.6 million, the study being released today concludes.

<snip>

The study was conducted in an attempt to pose and answer a version of President Reagan's memorable 1980 campaign question: Are you better off now than four years ago? The findings are certain to be used by Democrats to argue that average Americans have fallen behind economically under President Bush's administration and that any benefits Bush's tax cuts delivered to working families have been lost.

...more...

[Nite Owl]

1. That needed a study to know?

Some are rather removed from the reality of bills.

[UpInArms]

2. my thought exactly -

this is "news"?

What rock do these folks sleep under?

[camero]

3. Can you say price gouging?

That's basically what the medical community is doing.

[doc03]

4. Bush has a health care plan. Stop people from suing doctors

when they remove the wrong body part, cripple you for life or kill you.

[TXDemGal]

6. "Don't get sick"

Bush/Cheney's health care plan in a nutshell. :grr:

[lovuian]

5. Healthcare in America is Imploding

:nuke: and the Greed is like a virus eating its victim

Soon Americans are going to wake up and find out they have NO Healthcare .....

then watch socialized Medicine come raging

[JackDragna]

7. I hope the awakening starts soon.

Nearly 50 million don't have health insurance as it is. Ridiculously high costs of care is one thing, but we're quickly becoming a nation where people can't afford even the most basic insurance. I have health insurance, but only because I have a plan with a giant deductible. If I got really sick, it'd still be a financial catastrophe for me.

Yet another great example of how we're becoming a third-world nation.

[lovuian]

8. Its ridiculous!!! And why Americans haven't demanded

Socialized Medicine is beyond me....Its going to be that No Employer is going to be able to afford Healthcare for their employees

I know people going for optional surgeries to other countries because its way cheaper and they get good care...

[OKNancy]

9. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=869116