Western Exposure

Health care: a math problem, not a political problem

By August 20, 2009March 19th, 2015No Comments

Here’s the problem. It’s a math problem. Not a political problem. A Park City, Utah, couple – young, working, no health problems, insured – is  going broke over health care. The Moynahans – two self-employed parents and a young daughter – are struggling to deal with average annual increase of 20 percent in the family’s health insurance premiums. They’ve switched between three insurance companies and four plans to try to save money, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. They have a stripped-down plan with a high deductible.

The Salt Lake paper did the story off a report by Families USA, which did a comprehensive study finding that that families nationally are being priced out of coverage.  And employers who offer coverage are reeling. The Utah employer’s average annual share of family premiums was $4,861 in 2000, and it rose 97 percent to $9,594 in 2009, the report notes. It is based on data from the U.S. Census and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But hey, it’s hard to rant about math problems. No lines in the sand about math problems. Too simple.

Rita Hibbard

Rita Hibbard

Co-Founder

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