Medical Costs Expected to Increase by Nine Percent in 2010

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News Growth in medical costs for 2010 is expected to be nine percent, slightly lower than in previous years. In early 2009, 41% of employers said they expected to increase medical cost sharing through plan design changes and 42% of employers said they would increase employee contributions, up from 38% with this response in 2008. More than two-thirds of employers are expecting to expand wellness and disease management programs, although few are convinced that they are very effective at mitigating health care costs. These are findings of a report entitled “Behind . . .