Healthcare Premiums Rising

The Los Angeles Times (9/28, Helfand) reports, "Healthcare premiums paid by large US employers have more than doubled over the last decade, but the costs to their employees more than tripled, a study released Monday found." And "next year companies can expect healthcare costs to rise nearly 9% on average -- the largest increase in five years -- as they confront an aging workforce, large medical claims and changes brought by healthcare reform." Employees "face higher costs as companies shift an ever-larger share of insurance premiums and healthcare costs to them." The "recently adopted healthcare reform package also is expected to drive up insurance rates and saddle employers with new costs," in particular the new rule that allows "adult children to remain on their parents' health insurance plans through age 26."