Study: Out-of-pocket costs soar under employer-sponsored plans

A new study published yesterday on the Web site for the journal Health Affairs finds that Americans with employer-provided health benefits faced significant increases in out-of-pocket costs between 2004 and 2007 (Source: “Trends In Underinsurance And The Affordability Of Employer Coverage, 2004-2007,” HealthAffairs.org, June 2, 2009)

The study found that, in 2007, adults with employer-sponsored coverage faced an average of $729 in annual out-of-pocket expenses, or 34 percent more than the average of $545 in 2004.

"In the United States, if you are sick and earn a modest income, then you are probably underinsured—even if you have employer-based health coverage," wrote the researchers, led by Jon R. Gabel of the National Opinion Research Center.