Saturday, March 06, 2004
Seniors' costs rise
Retirees under the age of 65 saw their personal expenses for health plans increase 20 percent to $166 a month in 2003, while expenses for those over 65 increased 18 percent to $83 a month. [Kaiser Family Foundation] This is after the much touted Medicare changes that those who were paying attention saw would increase the cost to the individual senior citizen.
Americans without health insurance skyrockets under Bush.
In the last two years of the Clinton Administration, 2.3 million people gained health insurance. Since Bush took office, 3.8 million have lost it. [U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports]
Out of pocket expenses higher under Bush
Annual out-of-pocket expenses for workers are up $174 (52 percent) for individuals and $793 (49 percent) for families. Job-based health insurance costs are rising at the highest rate in 13 years, with average annual premiums for employer-based health plans rising 14 percent in 2003 -- up $323 for individuals and $1,114 for families. [Kaiser Family Foundation]
Under Bush, health care costs go up at four times the rate of inflation.
Health care spending rose 9.3 percent in 2002 and 8.5 percent in 2001 -- more than four times the rate of inflation. [Health Affairs, Jan/Feb. 2004; Bureau of Labor Statistics]
All articles in this archive are used under "fair use" as they are important to the national discussion of whether or not the people of this country are being deceived by their government. These articles are used as evidence in that discussion.
