from the ConsumerWatchdog.org
(Click for Larger Image)
What the loss of the Public Option really Means ...
Good bye competitive choice ...
HELLOOOO ... More of the Same!
Health Care Premiums Rise 5% For Year -- Increase Is 131% For Decade
By Victoria Colliver, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE -- Sep 16, 2009
The average family premium for health insurance offered through an employer surpassed the $13,000 mark this year, and the cost of coverage continues to outpace increases in wages and inflation, according to a report released Tuesday.
[...]
Over the past 10 years, premiums have risen 131 percent while wages have increased just 38 percent. In that time, inflation has gone up 28 percent.
[...]
About 60 percent of employers offered health benefits this year, down from 66 percent in 1999. While 8 percent of employers said they were "somewhat" or "very likely" to drop coverage, more than 40 percent planned to increase the amount employees pay toward their premiums.
[...]
Employers generally pay 74 percent of the cost of coverage, with smaller firms contributing less than larger companies.
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/...
SO What does the Death of the Public Option really Mean ...
More of Same
More outrageous increases in premiums -- far outpacing the rate of Inflation.
More Collusion between Insurance Corporations -- to set prices, to divvy up States without any real Competition to hold them in check.
More Monopoly-like Insurers, making a Fortune on the backs of consumers --
Hard working Americans who continue to pay and pay, for less and less benefits in return.
Used to be in this Country, such anti-competitive "pricing fixing" was illegal.
No longer, it seems.
As one Senator put it recently, in a moment of unusual bluntness --
"The Bankers own the Place"
Looks like we need to extend that to include the Insurance and Drug Companies, too.
Even though the People elect them, Senators obviously have other monied-interests, that they MUST Answer to.
Meanwhile, average folks can look forward to falling further behind, since the pace of Wage Increases, certainly HASN'T KEPT PACE, with those Increases in Premiums!
(Click for Larger Image)
Decade of No Income Gains for Wage Earners
By: Mike_Shedlock - Sep 13, 2009
The typical American household made less money last year than the typical household made a full decade ago.
[...] the big news from the Census Bureau’s annual report on income, poverty and health insurance, which was released this morning. Median household fell to $50,303 last year, from $52,163 in 2007. In 1998, median income was $51,295. All these numbers are adjusted for inflation.
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/...
Hmmm? we appear to be moving backwards!
What the loss of the competitive choice really mean ... to you and your Family.
the More things DON'T Change,
the More they Stay the Same.
also posted on docuDharma