Cost control

"Thank goodness for health insurance" was the first thought that crossed my mind when I saw the total bill for my daughter's recent minor surgery. My second thought: "Wow, that's still a big deductible."

 Healthcare costs are on the rise, both for employers and their employees. Since 2001, average premiums for family coverage have increased 113 percent, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust. In 2011, premiums for single coverage were 8 percent higher than in 2010 and premiums for family coverage were up 9 percent, the group reports in its "2011 Employer Health Benefits Survey."

Don't get me wrong. I am very grateful to have a benefits plan that covers my family and me. Although it isn't free (I still pay a certain percentage of the family coverage premium), it does mean that bills like the one I recently received aren't even close to what they could be.

Going forward, however, it's safe to assume healthcare premiums will once again increase, and in a tough economy, that presents challenges to employers and employees alike as they try to keep costs down.

In an upcoming issue of Glass Magazine, we will take a look at trends in employer-sponsored health benefits. We will also examine trends within our industry, in an effort to provide subscribers with information that might help as they form employee policy. To that end, we are conducting a brief anonymous survey. The more participation, the better the results, so please consider filling out the survey here. Thank you!

Chase is editorial director of Glass Magazine. Write her at jchase@glass.org.