5 Premium and Trend Context Health insurance premium increases have consistently exceeded the CPI and worker earnings Premium increases are eating all potential wage increases for workers and their retirement savings Key drivers of premium increases: –Absence of market forces rewarding better quality and more efficient care (fee-for-service versus whole person ) –Impact of new technologies, health labor shortages, aging population and poor population health –Decreased plan competition –Provider monopolistic practices –Cost-shifting from under funding of Medicare, Medicaid and the uninsured
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