In the wake of last week's Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, a new survey from HR consulting company Towers Watson shows that the cost of providing employee health coverage is rising even in countries untouched by Obamacare.
The cost of employee healthcare benefits continues to rise around the world, according to the Towers Watson survey of 237 leading medical insurers in 48 countries. The insurers cited an average increase in medical costs of 9.8% in 2011, down from a 10.2% rise in 2009, and predicted such costs will increase 9.6% this year. A separate Towers Watson survey with greater domestic focus put the U.S. trend rate of medical cost increases at 8% in 2011 and predicted an 7.4% rise this year.
Insurers list the top three causes of cost increases as new medical technology, over-prescription of care by practitioners and the fact that providers are becoming more profit-driven.
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