59% of all Companies Planning on Dumping Health Costs onto Workers in 2009

Only in America. Literally!    A new survey says:

Fifty-nine percent of companies intend to keep down rising health-care costs in 2009 by raising workers' deductibles, copays or out-of-pocket spending limits, according to a survey by the Mercer consulting firm

More alarming statistics. A 5.7% increase in costs, last year was 6% and the deductibles have doubled.  Think it has to be this way?  Just look outside the United States.   OECD compares health care costs of nations as percentage of GDP.

 click graph to enlarge

click graph to enlarge

These graphs are for 2006.   As one can see the United States greatly exceeds other nations in out of pocket as well as overall costs.  Here are more Health care costs as a global comparison from 2003.

Frontline documentary, Sick Around the World, is a fairly good overview of other national health care systems. It shows clearly a nation can have great health care, socialized and not break the bank!