Tennessee health care premiums jump 10 percent
Nashville Business Journal
The average premium for health care insurance in Tennessee jumped 10 percent in 2008, according to a health care e-survey.
The 2008 Healthcare eSurvey found that the average premium increase nationally for all industries was 11.1 percent.
When comparing plans in 2008, 60.6 percent of Tennessee health care organizations offering PPO plans saw an average increase of 10 percent, while POS plans had average premium increases of 9 percent.
To contain rising costs, Tennessee health care organizations used such things as wellness programs, 51.4 percent. With these programs, 91.3 percent offer flu shots and immunizations and 43.5 percent provide tobacco cessation. Over a quarter of health care organizations surveyed offer weight management programs.
In addition to wellness programs, 80 percent coordinate benefits to contain costs, and 67.1 utilize a network of health care professionals. Pre-admission testing is used by half of Tennessee health care organizations.
The results showed 56.4 percent of Tennessee health care providers increased the employee portion of the premium to reduce costs. Currently, 16.4 and 10.9 percent of organizations increased deductible levels and employee co-insurance levels respectively. On average, U.S. employers contribute 10.3 percent of payroll toward the cost of health benefits.
Compdata Surveys, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and TSHHRA deliver a health care survey to organizations across the state.
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