Health benefits in 2003: premiums reach thirteen-year high as employers adopt new forms of cost sharing

Health Aff (Millwood). 2003 Sep-Oct;22(5):117-26. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.22.5.117.

Abstract

This paper reports changes in job-based health insurance from spring 2002 to spring 2003. The cost of health insurance rose 13.9 percent, the highest rate of increase since 1990. Employers required larger contributions from employees for the monthly cost of health insurance. Separate copayments and deductibles for hospital services have become commonplace, and provider networks have broadened. There was no change in the percentage of employers offering health plans to their workers. Employers indicate little confidence in any future strategies for controlling health care costs.

MeSH terms

  • Cost Sharing / statistics & numerical data
  • Cost Sharing / trends*
  • Deductibles and Coinsurance / statistics & numerical data
  • Deductibles and Coinsurance / trends
  • Fees and Charges / statistics & numerical data
  • Fees and Charges / trends*
  • Forecasting
  • Health Benefit Plans, Employee / economics*
  • Health Benefit Plans, Employee / trends
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Managed Care Programs / classification
  • Managed Care Programs / economics
  • Managed Care Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • Pensions / statistics & numerical data
  • United States