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SALT LAKE CITY -- A report form the health advocacy group Families USA says increases in Utah's health insurance premiums have outpaced increases in income by 4.3 percent over the past 10 years.
The report says in addition to higher premiums, working families are facing higher out-of-pocket health care costs which include higher deductibles, copayments, and costs for services not covered by insurance plans.
The group says if nothing is done to reform health care, insurance will become increasingly unaffordable for families in Utah and across the nation.
To read the full report CLICK HERE.
Draper Area Chamber of Commerce President William Rappleye delivered a similar message to Utah lawmakers during a Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting Wednesday. He said the premiums aren't hurting just individuals but also businesses.
"The urgency for reform grows even stronger. The single biggest challenge facing Utah small business today is the cost of providing insurance to their employees," said Rappleye. "Small businesses are the foundation of our economy. They cannot lead the way to economic recovery without immediate and lasting relief from rising health care costs."
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
