Here's a timely news release from the Campaign for Better Health Care, an advocacy group for health system reform:
HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS ROSE FIVE TIMES FASTER THAN EARNINGS IN ILLINOIS FROM 2000 THROUGH 2009
Report Finds that Premiums Rose by 85.6 Percent, While Earnings Rose by Only 17.2 Percent in Illinois
Chicago - New data estimates that family health care premiums in Illinois rose approximately five times faster than wages during 2000 - 2009, according to the Campaign for Better Health Care. The report by the national consumer health organization Families USA indicates that in that ten year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 85.6 percent, while median earnings rose by only 17.2 percent.
Among the new report's key findings are:
* For family health coverage provided through the workplace in Illinois, the average annual health insurance premium (employer and worker share of premiums combined) in the 2000-2009 period rose from $7,220 to $13,397--an increase of $6,177, or 85.6 percent.
* Between 2000 and 2009, the median earnings of Illinois's workers rose from $26,806 to $31,414--an increase of $4,608, or 17.2 percent.
"Health care is the key to economic security and opportunity," said Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care. "Only comprehensive health insurance reform will ensure the long term economic stability of Illinois' working families and small businesses."
"Rising health care costs threaten the financial well-being of families in Illinois and across the nation," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. "If health care reform does not happen soon, more and more families will be priced out of the health coverage they used to take for granted."
An even worse downside of rising costs is the loss of health coverage altogether. Between 2000 and 2008, the total percentage of U.S. firms offering health coverage declined by 6 percentage points--from 69 percent of firms to 63 percent--with small businesses being the most likely to drop coverage.
Another potential catastrophe for families is the possibility that they will join the growing ranks of families filing for bankruptcy because of their medical debts. Prior to filing for bankruptcy, families attempt to balance budgets by dropping phone service, trimming food costs, and going without needed medical or dental care. Despite these desperate measures, however, more than half of all bankruptcies are related to medical costs.
Duffett continued, "The people of this country deserve a system that will ensure their freedom to choose what kind of plan works best for them and their families, that controls costs, contains checks and balances, and holds the insurance industry accountable. It is essential that a public option is available to people. They deserve peace of mind in knowing that no matter what happens, the coverage that they and their families need will be available and affordable for them."
The Families USA report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A copy of this report is available online at the Campaign for Better Health Care's website.
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About the Campaign for Better Health Care
We believe that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for all people. The Campaign for Better Health Care is the state's largest coalition representing over 300 diverse organizations, organizing to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system for all. For more information, visit www.cbhconline.org.
And here's another health care event -- for $20! Yikes.
Healthcare Reform-Next Steps, takes place at 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Tues., Sept. 22 at the
Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria for $20 per person.
It aims to present "an overview of the current health system problems, a summary of current legislation, and a facilitated panel discussion examining how healthcare reform legislation would impact our community. Panelists will discuss the impact to important stakeholder groups - healthcare providers, payers, employers, patients, and families - and then take questions from the audience."
Panelists include: Dr. Gail Amundson, CEO, Quality Quest for Health of Illinois;
Brad McMillan, Exec. Director, Institute for Principled Leadership; Jerry Duggan, Healthcare Benefi ts, Caterpillar Inc.; Paul Macek, CEO, Proctor Hospital; Dr. Kevin O’Brien, Department of Economics, Bradley University; Dr. Robert Parker, Chief Medical Officer, Health Alliance; Eric Parmenter, Senior Consultant, Towers Perrin; Steve Thompson, CEO, Easter Seals. (It's not clear how many of the above are physicians, and how many are PhDs.)
Mary Pille, President, AAIM Employer’s Association, the sponsor, will also comment.
For more information, call 309-637-3333. Register online at www.eaconnect.com.
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