Benefits Broker

With an annual 2010 average per covered employee health cost of just over $10,000, this means employers will see an increase of $100 to $200, which will be in addition to expected average annual cost increases of 8 percent to 10 percent.

The nation's largest employers expect health care costs to jump 8.9 percent in 2011.

The one area of the economy, as we've heard again and again, where this system doesn't work so well is in health care

every time I hear about or see some new poll or survey, I always consider the source and temper the results with a little cool-headed detachment.

The Eastbridge Voluntary Industry Confidence Index climbed to 84 percent for 2010; a year ago, only about 73 percent of respondents were predicting new group growth.

COBRA enrollment rates remain high even though laid-off workers aren't receiving any more federal help to pay for premiums.

Most large employers will make changes to their health benefits next year to comply with health care reform and to manage anticipated cost increases.

Guess that's what you get when you throw a bunch of insurance commissioners in a room and tell 'em to figure what Congress meant when they passed health care reform.