It may not be news to you that healthcare costs are rising but you may be surprised to know by how much.
Families USA surveyed healthcare costs for each state between 2000 and 2006. In Wisconsin, family health coverage premiums jumped 66 per cent while the median family income rose just under 16 per cent.
Ron Pollack, Families USA Executive Director says higher drug prices and hospital rates are to blame. And for families who get health coverage through work, the employer's contribution is up nearly 69 per cent but the workers' share has jumped 75 per cent.
And, Pollack says, we're paying more for less as deductibles also go up and the number of procedures covered in a policy diminishes.
Pollack says this problem is too big for any one company or state to handle. He feels the cost of health care has to be a national priority. Pollack says Congress will have a chance to do something when proposed modifications to Medicare Part D come up, especially the idea of allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies for the best price.
Wisconsin's increase in premiums is actually a little better, Pollack says, than most states but not by much. And that he says is not much comfort.