... [+]gettyaccording to the latest reportNext year’s rise in employer-paid health insurance premiums comes after a much lower rate increase this year of 3.2%,And next year’s coming increase is almost as much as the 6.2% spike in 2021 that was largely due to individuals catching “up on healthcare needs delayed as a result of the pandemic,” Mercer said.
The return to what Mercer analysts say is a more “normal trend” is still well below general inflation that has been averaging 8% this year, but it could be a sign of healthcare inflation rising in coming years, Mercer analysts say. “One reason cost growth lagged inflation this year is because healthcare providers typically have multi-year contracts with health plans,” said Sunit Patel, Chief Health Actuary at Mercer. “So although employers did not feel the full brunt of inflation immediately, it’s very likely that inflation-driven cost increases will phase in over the next few years as contracts are renewed.”
This year’s total health benefit cost per worker hit $15,013 on average, Mercer said, “with small organizations reporting slightly higher costs than large organizations ,” Mercer’s analysis shows.
Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: HoustonChron - 🏆 609. / 51 Read more »