Aon Study: Health-care premium increases slowed in 2012

This year, U.S. companies and their employees saw the lowest health-care premium rate increases in six years, according to an analysis by Aon Hewitt, the global human-resources consulting business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON). 

The average health-care insurance-premium rate increase for large employers in 2012 was 4.9 percent, down from 8.5 percent in 2011 and 6.2 percent in 2010, according to Aon Hewitt. However, average health-care premium increases are projected to jump up to 6.3 percent in 2013.

Aon Hewitt’s analysis showed the average health-care cost per employee was $10,522 in 2012, up from $10,034 in 2011. The portion of the total health-care premium that employees were asked to contribute toward this premium cost was $2,204 in 2012, up from $2,090 in 2011. Meanwhile, average employee out-of-pocket costs — such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles — totaled $2,200 in 2012, up from $2,072 in 2011, Aon Hewitt said.

For 2013, average health-care costs per employee are projected to rise to $11,188. Consistent with the previous two years, employees will be asked to contribute 21 percent of the total health-care premium, which equates to $2,385 for 2013, according to Aon Hewitt. Average employee out-of-pocket costs are expected to increase to $2,429.