Unhealthy, unsustainable
Thursday, September 28th, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
The cost of health insurance keeps rising out of reach for more and more Americans. This year, premiums are rising 7.7 percent while wages are rising 3.8 percent.
At least that’s better than last year, when premiums rose 9.2 percent or 2003, when they rose 13.9. And, even with all the money that’s wasted, it’s true that we buy something precious: more good years of life for more people.
Yet as prices rise, fewer companies offer insurance to their employees. If they do offer it, they’re probably raising premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
No wonder the number of uninsured Americans keeps growing. The latest estimate is 47 million or more. When the indigent uninsured are sick enough to go to the doctor or call the ambulance, people who buy insurance are charged more for it and taxpayers are sent higher bills. And for those 65 and over, Medicare is on thin ice. (more…)
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