Hmo Rate Hikes Slow; a Forecast That Health Insurance Increases Will Dip Below 10% Is Hardly Reason to Celebrate

Summary

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After years of double-digit cost increases, it appears some long- awaited health insurance rate relief is on the way.

But the small price decline, one official argues, could come as little consolation for those caught in a health care crisis that is stunting business growth, devouring worker wage gains and leaving millions of Americans uninsured.

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Hmo Rate Hikes Slow; a Forecast That Health Insurance Increases Will Dip Below 10% Is Hardly Reason to Celebrate

Health maintenance organization rates are projected to rise between 8 and 9 percent nationally in 2006, the lowest rate of increase in five years, according to a survey by global human resources firm Hewitt Associates.

Health care spending represents 15.3% of Gross Domestic Product

* In 2003, health c...

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