Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Workers' Share Of Health Costs Nearly Doubles In A Decade
A new report from the Commonwealth Fund says U.S. workers' portion of health insurance costs increased 93 percent over the past 10 years. The amount that workers contribute toward premiums climbed from $606 in 2003 to $1,170 in 2013, the nonprofit health care research group reported Tuesday. (Zdechlik, 12/9)
If you get health insurance at work, chances are you have some sort of wellness plan, too. But so far there鈥檚 no real evidence as to whether these plans work. One thing we do know is that wellness is particularly popular with employers right now as they seek ways to slow the rise of health spending. These initiatives can range from urging workers to use the stairs all the way to requiring comprehensive health screenings. The 2014 survey of employers by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 98 percent of large employers and 73 percent of smaller employers offer at least one wellness program. (Rovner, 12/10)
