The cost of large employers' health plans has already nudged up 4% by January 1998, compared to a 3% increase in 1997, according to a new survey released by Towers Perrin (TP), a New York-based business management and HR consulting firm.
"Most of our survey respondents expect even faster growth in 1999," said William J. Falk, a principal in TP's Chicago office.
The survey polled 150 employers from primarily large Fortune 1000 companies and asked for 1997 and 1998 per capita premium costs for insured health and dental plans and premium equivalents for self-insured plans. The report breaks out 1998 cost levels and average increases by employees, retirees and Medicare eligibles.
| 1998 Monthly Cost Increases to Employers by Covered Group | ||||
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Emps | Emps/spouse | Family Avg. | Increase |
| Active Employees | $162 | $332 | $459 | 4% |
| Retirees under 65 | $223 | $429 | $559 | 4% |
| Medicare-eligibles | $114 | $229 | N/A | 5% |
For more information about the survey, contact Joe Conway at 914/745-4175; email: [email protected]/