Durbin: Kaiser Study Shows No End in Sight for Rising Cost of Health Care

DURBIN: KAISER STUDY SHOWS NO END IN SIGHT FOR RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called the results of the Kaiser Family Foundation annual survey of health benefits provided by employers "a national tragedy." The survey released today shows that health insurance premiums increased by more than 9 percent in 2005 - an increase that is more than three times the growth in worker's earnings and two and a half times the rate of inflation. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have gone up 73 percent.

"Health care is a vitally important issue for businesses and working families across the nation," Durbin said. "I hear stories of people struggling to pay for their health insurance every time I go home to Illinois. It is time for Congress to take action - it has been more than a decade since lawmakers have made any effort to lower the cost of health care."

"I urge my colleagues to work with me to not let another year pass without addressing this problem," said Durbin. "We cannot escape the reality that health insurance is now prohibitively expensive for caring employers who want to offer health care coverage for their employers."

Senator Durbin introduced legislation earlier this year to help small businesses provide quality, affordable health insurance to their employees. The Small Employers Health Benefits Act (S. 637) is modeled after the successful federal employee health insurance program and has the endorsement of many major organizations including the American Medical Association and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

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