Family_NN1 health_NN1 costs_NN2 outpace_VV0 inflation_NN1 and_CC wage_NN1 growth_NN1 WASHINGTON_NP1 --_NN1 The_AT average_JJ cost_NN1 of_IO job-based_JJ family_NN1 health_NN1 insurance_NN1 climbed_VVD 5_MC percent_NNU to_II $13,375_NNU in_II 2009_MC ,_, making_VVG this_DD1 the_AT 10th_MD straight_JJ year_NNT1 that_DD1 health_NN1 care_NN1 premiums_NN2 have_VH0 increased_VVN faster_RRR than_CSN workers_NN2 '_GE wages_NN2 and_CC overall_JJ inflation_NN1 have_VH0 ._. 
Insurance_NN1 costs_NN2 have_VH0 increased_VVN 131_MC percent_NNU since_II 1999_MC ,_, when_CS a_AT1 year_NNT1 of_IO family_NN1 coverage_NN1 cost_NN1 about_RG $5,791_NNU ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT 2009_MC Employer_NN1 Health_NN1 Benefits_NN2 Survey_VV0 by_II the_AT Kaiser_NNB Family_NP1 Foundation_NN1 and_CC the_AT Health_NN1 Research_NN1 &;_NULL Educational_JJ Trust_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 supercharged_JJ growth_NN1 rate_NN1 far_RR outpaces_VVZ the_AT 38_MC percent_NNU increase_NN1 in_II wages_NN2 and_CC 28_MC percent_NNU growth_NN1 of_IO inflation_NN1 over_II the_AT same_DA period_NN1 ._. 
The_AT inability_NN1 of_IO consumers_NN2 and_CC employers_NN2 to_TO finance_VVI that_DD1 growth_NN1 in_II cost_NN1 is_VBZ helping_VVG to_TO drive_VVI the_AT heated_JJ debate_NN1 over_II how_RRQ to_TO revamp_VVI the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE heath_NN1 care_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
At_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 when_RRQ employers_NN2 are_VBR laying_VVG off_RP workers_NN2 ,_, facing_VVG revenue_NN1 declines_VVZ and_CC looking_VVG for_IF ways_NN2 to_TO cut_VVI costs_NN2 ,_, health_NN1 insurance_NN1 is_VBZ proving_VVG a_AT1 substantial_JJ financial_JJ burden_NN1 ._. 
So_RR they_PPHS2 're_VBR passing_VVG the_AT costs_NN2 to_II employees_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS 're_VBR paying_VVG higher_JJR deductibles_NN2 and_CC out-of-pocket_JJ expenses_NN2 while_CS often_RR receiving_VVG less_RGR comprehensive_JJ coverage_NN1 for_IF their_APPGE money_NN1 ._. 
Twenty-one_MC percent_NNU of_IO firms_NN2 with_IW insurance_NN1 coverage_NN1 reduced_VVD benefits_NN2 or_CC increased_JJ employee_NN1 cost-sharing_NN1 due_II21 to_II22 the_AT recession_NN1 ,_, the_AT survey_NN1 found_VVD ._. 
Fifteen_MC percent_NNU increased_VVD their_APPGE workers_NN2 '_GE shares_NN2 of_IO the_AT monthly_JJ premium_NN1 ._. 
"_" When_CS health_NN1 care_NN1 costs_NN2 continue_VV0 to_TO rise_VVI so_RG much_DA1 faster_JJR than_CSN overall_JJ inflation_NN1 in_II a_AT1 bad_JJ recession_NN1 ,_, workers_NN2 and_CC employers_NN2 really_RR feel_VV0 the_AT pain_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Drew_NP1 Altman_NP1 ,_, the_AT president_NN1 and_CC chief_JJ executive_NN1 of_IO the_AT Kaiser_NNB Family_NP1 Foundation_NN1 ._. 
Employers_NN2 typically_RR pay_VV0 about_RG $9,860_NNU of_IO the_AT standard_JJ $13,375_NNU family_NN1 policy_NN1 ,_, the_AT survey_NN1 found_VVD ._. 
Workers_NN2 pick_VV0 up_RP the_AT rest_NN1 ,_, about_RG $3,515_NNU or_CC 27_MC percent_NNU ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ the_AT same_DA share_NN1 as_CSA last_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT cost_NN1 of_IO single_JJ coverage_NN1 increased_VVD slightly_RR this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, averaging_VVG about_RG $4,824_NNU compared_VVN to_II $4,704_NNU last_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
Employees_NN2 pay_VV0 about_RG 17_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT cost_NN1 ,_, or_CC $779_NNU toward_II the_AT coverage_NN1 ._. 
The_AT rising_JJ costs_NN2 mean_VV0 that_CST a_AT1 year_NNT1 of_IO family_NN1 coverage_NN1 ,_, on_II average_NN1 ,_, now_RT costs_VVZ employers_NN2 about_RG $15,000_NNU ,_, nearly_RR as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA a_AT1 year_NNT1 of_IO labor_NN1 from_II a_AT1 full-time_JJ minimum_JJ wage_NN1 worker_NN1 ,_, Altman_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Consumers_NN2 also_RR pay_VV0 more_RRR ,_, on_II average_NN1 ,_, for_IF family_NN1 coverage_NN1 than_CSN they_PPHS2 'd_VM pay_VVI to_TO purchase_VVI a_AT1 gas-sipping_JJ Chevrolet_NP1 Aveo_NP1 --_NN1 about_RG $12,000_NNU --_NN1 or_CC to_TO rent_VVI a_AT1 two-bedroom_JJ apartment_NN1 for_IF the_AT nationwide_JJ yearly_JJ average_NN1 of_IO $11,136_NNU ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 just_RR underscores_VVZ why_RRQ health_NN1 insurance_NN1 is_VBZ increasingly_RR unaffordable_JJ for_IF working_VVG people_NN and_CC for_IF employers_NN2 ,_, especially_RR small_JJ employers_NN2 ,_, "_" Altman_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
About_RG 159_MC million_NNO people_NN have_VH0 employer-based_JJ coverage_NN1 nationally_RR ,_, but_CCB the_AT percentage_NN1 of_IO companies_NN2 that_CST provide_VV0 it_PPH1 is_VBZ declining_JJ ,_, particularly_RR among_II smaller_JJR ones_NN2 ._. 
Only_RR 59_MC percent_NNU of_IO firms_NN2 with_IW fewer_DAR than_CSN 200_MC employees_NN2 offer_VV0 coverage_NN1 in_II 2009_MC ,_, compared_VVN with_IW 62_MC percent_NNU last_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT rate_NN1 fell_VVD from_II 78_MC percent_NNU to_II 72_MC percent_NNU among_II companies_NN2 with_IW 10_MC to_II 24_MC employees_NN2 ._. 
Perry_NP1 Goodwin_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS runs_VVZ the_AT Gaines_NP2 W._NP1 Harrison_NP1 &;_NULL Sons_NN2 hydraulic_JJ repair_NN1 shop_NN1 in_II Columbia_NP1 ,_, S.C._NP1 ,_, saw_VVD his_APPGE insurance_NN1 costs_NN2 increase_VV0 28_MC percent_NNU to_II 33_MC percent_NNU a_AT1 year_NNT1 for_IF five_MC straight_JJ years_NNT2 ._. 
But_CCB when_CS it_PPH1 cost_VVD him_PPHO1 $16,000_NNU a_AT1 month_NNT1 to_TO insure_VVI his_APPGE 20_MC employees_NN2 ,_, Goodwin_NP1 decided_VVD it_PPH1 was_VBDZ time_NNT1 for_IF a_AT1 change_NN1 ._. 
So_RR he_PPHS1 switched_VVD insurance_NN1 carriers_NN2 several_DA2 years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, and_CC his_APPGE premiums_NN2 fell_VVD to_II about_RG $10,000_NNU a_AT1 month_NNT1 ._. 
"_" But_CCB then_RT they_PPHS2 shot_VVD up_RP another_DD1 $3,000_NNU (_( a_AT1 month_NNT1 )_) over_II the_AT period_NN1 of_IO one_MC1 year_NNT1 ,_, "_" Goodwin_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" So_RR then_RT I_PPIS1 went_VVD to_II another_DD1 carrier_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS got_VVD me_PPIO1 down_RP to_II about_RG $11,000_NNU a_AT1 month_NNT1 ._. "_" 
Goodwin_NP1 now_RT pays_VVZ about_RG $10,000_NNU a_AT1 month_NNT1 ,_, and_CC to_TO keep_VVI his_APPGE costs_NN2 down_RP he_PPHS1 increased_VVD his_APPGE employees_NN2 '_GE deductible_JJ this_DD1 year_NNT1 to_II $500_NNU from_II $250_NNU and_CC cut_VV0 his_APPGE coverage_NN1 for_IF employee_NN1 dependents_NN2 in_II half_DB ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 could_VM get_VVI it_PPH1 cheaper_JJR if_CS I_PPIS1 wanted_VVD it_PPH1 ,_, but_CCB you_PPY get_VV0 what_DDQ you_PPY pay_VV0 for_IF ,_, "_" Goodwin_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
As_II the_AT debate_NN1 about_II health_NN1 care_NN1 goes_VVZ on_RP ,_, Goodwin_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 opposes_VVZ what_DDQ the_AT Obama_NP1 administration_NN1 and_CC Congress_NN1 have_VH0 proposed_VVN ,_, particularly_RR a_AT1 government-run_JJ public_JJ option_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ he_PPHS1 fears_VVZ businesses_NN2 could_VM be_VBI asked_VVN to_TO subsidize_VVI ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 ai_FU n't_XX the_AT government_NN1 's_GE business_NN1 ,_, "_" Goodwin_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX need_VVI to_TO be_VBI running_VVG a_AT1 car_NN1 company_NN1 ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 sure_RR do_VD0 n't_XX need_VVI to_TO be_VBI running_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 ._. "_" 
If_CS there_EX 's_VBZ a_AT1 way_NN1 to_TO keep_VVI costs_NN2 down_RP without_IW the_AT government_NN1 getting_VVG involved_JJ ,_, however_RR ,_, Goodwin_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 's_VBZ all_DB for_IF it_PPH1 ._. 
Dallas_NP1 Salisbury_NP1 ,_, the_AT president_NN1 and_CC chief_JJ executive_NN1 of_IO the_AT Employee_NN1 Benefits_NN2 Research_VV0 Institute_NN1 ,_, said_VVD Goodwin_NP1 's_GE comments_NN2 are_VBR typical_JJ of_IO surveys_NN2 of_IO business_NN1 owners_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS 're_VBR mostly_RR Republican_JJ or_CC Libertarian_JJ and_CC are_VBR likely_JJ to_TO oppose_VVI most_DAT forms_NN2 of_IO government_NN1 intervention_NN1 ._. 
Without_IW state_NN1 or_CC local_JJ level_JJ regulation_NN1 ,_, however_RR ,_, Salisbury_NP1 said_VVD insurance_NN1 companies_NN2 would_VM withhold_VVI coverage_NN1 from_II people_NN with_IW pre-existing_JJ conditions_NN2 and_CC try_VV0 to_TO "_" cherry_NN1 pick_VV0 ,_, "_" or_CC insure_VV0 only_RR healthy_JJ people_NN ._. 
Resolving_VVG the_AT cost_NN1 ,_, coverage_NN1 and_CC quality_NN1 issues_NN2 surrounding_VVG the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 debate_NN1 will_VM always_RR be_VBI difficult_JJ as_CS31 long_CS32 as_CS33 consumers_NN2 want_VV0 access_NN1 to_TO everything_PN1 ,_, "_" but_CCB they_PPHS2 assume_VV0 that_CST everybody_PN1 else_RR is_VBZ getting_VVG a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO services_NN2 that_CST they_PPHS2 really_RR do_VD0 n't_XX need_VVI ._. 
That_DD1 has_VHZ been_VBN ,_, for_IF at_RR21 least_RR22 60_MC years_NNT2 ,_, the_AT dilemma_NN1 of_IO modern_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 ,_, "_" Salisbury_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Other_JJ key_JJ findings_NN2 from_II the_AT survey_NN1 :_: Twenty-two_MC percent_NNU of_IO workers_NN2 now_RT pay_VV0 at_RR21 least_RR22 $1,000_NNU out_II21 of_II22 their_APPGE own_DA pocket_NN1 for_IF single_JJ coverage_NN1 before_II their_APPGE insurance_NN1 kicks_VVZ in_RP ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ up_RP from_II 18_MC percent_NNU last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT survey_NN1 of_IO more_DAR than_CSN 2,000_MC public_JJ and_CC private_JJ employers_NN2 ._. 
The_AT average_JJ annual_JJ deductible_JJ for_IF single_JJ coverage_NN1 in_II an_AT1 HMO_NN1 increased_VVN to_II $699_NNU this_DD1 year_NNT1 from_II $503_NNU in_II 2008_MC ._. 
For_IF family_NN1 coverage_NN1 in_II an_AT1 HMO_NN1 ,_, the_AT average_JJ deductible_NN1 jumped_VVD to_II $1,524_NNU from_II $1,053_NNU ._. 
(_( The_AT McClatchy_NP1 Washington_NP1 Bureau_NN1 works_VVZ in_II partnership_NN1 with_IW Kaiser_NNB Health_NP1 News_NN1 ,_, an_AT1 editorially_RR independent_JJ news_NN1 service_NN1 that_CST provides_VVZ coverage_NN1 of_IO the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE health_NN1 care_NN1 debate_NN1 and_CC is_VBZ part_NN1 of_IO the_AT Kaiser_NNB Family_NP1 Foundation_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Kaiser_NN1 foundation_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 nonpartisan_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 policy_NN1 research_NN1 organization_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ n't_XX affiliated_VVN with_IW Kaiser_NNB Permanente_NP1 ,_, helped_VVN conduct_VVI this_DD1 survey_NN1 ._. )_) 
