Cost-Containment

As a growing number of employers move retirees to private exchanges, concerns grow about cuts to benefits and rising costs for those on fixed incomes.

Much of the increase projected for next year is attributed to the new health care program. Without it, the estimated growth would be 4.5 percent.

Walgreen Co. is joining a growing push from big businesses to shift more responsibility for finding insurance onto their employees as health care costs continue to climb.

Even though many small businesses arent under any obligation to provide health care coverage to employees, nearly two-thirds may do just that within the next three years.

This is a critical time for HHS. With just days left before the exchanges open for enrollment on Oct. 1, we shouldnt be surprised to see HHS highlight what sound like positive results.

The gap in employment rates between America's highest- and lowest-income families has stretched to its widest levels since officials began tracking the data a decade ago.