Issue of the Week: Rising Costs of Family Health Insurance

Plus Heroes and Jerks of the Week

�The highly respected Families USA has performed a state-by-state study of health insurance costs over the past 10 years. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization found that, in Wisconsin, the average annual premium for a family health insurance plan has risen more than 4.5 times faster than the rate of wage increases. In the past 10 years, Wisconsin wages rose 20.4% while, in that same time period, the average annual premium for a family health insurance plan rose 93.6%. A family plan rose on average from $7,112 in 2000 to $13,772 in 2009. At this rate of increase for health insurance premiums, unless something changes, most employers will be forced to scale back their plans to just catastrophic coverage, shift the majority of the costs onto their employees, or drop their health insurance plans entirely. This is a frightening set of facts for the vast majority of Wisconsinites who get their health insurance from their employers.

�Hero of the Week:Pat Morrissey of MargaretAnn’s Place

�After she retired from her teaching career, Pat Morrissey still felt she had plenty more to give to area children. So she took a position at MargaretAnn’s Place, a nonprofit organization serving the needs of grieving children and their family members. Morrissey wears many hats at MargaretAnn’s Place, including that of school coordinator. Founded in Kenosha in 1998 (now with sites in Milwaukee and Racine), the center sponsors peer support and education groups, outreach programs, and telephone support and referrals for children coping with the loss of a family member. Morrissey’s exemplary dedication to area youth and families makes her our Hero of the Week. Readers wishing to volunteer or donate needed items to MargaretAnn’s Place are encouraged to call 414-732-2663 or visit www.margaretannsplace.org.

Jerk of the Week: Sheriff David Clarke

�Remember the “Tea Parties” organized and heavily funded by members of right-wing special-interest groups who tried to pretend that these events across the country were just spontaneous grassroots uprisings? Well, they’re back: The Tea Party Movement Continues is their Part Two, and Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is one of their scheduled speakers. Clarke, as usual, will rail against government and government spending. Does this man not realize that he has spent his entire career working in the public sector and being paid by the taxpayers, and that he personifies exactly what he seems to despise? Currently, he earns about $130,000 a year, in addition to a very generous health benefits package, to mismanage the sheriff’s department. His mismanagement has resulted in several lawsuits that have cost taxpayers even more money. Now, Mr. Clarke, if you are so upset with government spending and taxes, why don’t you have the integrity to give back a percentage of your salary to help cover the additional taxpayer costs incurred by your mismanagement and resultant lawsuits.�

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

anonymous

People complain to much about rising health care costs. Its not fair to compare the fact that health care costs have risen faster than wages. Thats because medical technology has advanced so much faster than the economy in general. Whats it worth to have the latest medical treatments to save your life you didn't have 10 years ago? Everything you have, right? So pay up and don't complain.

keep in mind the price of color TVs, internet, phone calls, computers, and double cheeseburgers at McDonalds has fallen. No one is complaining the prices should be raised to match increased wages. Someday, perhaps in the next generation, we will see the price of health drop like we have seen the prices of other products and services drop. Be patient.

Many people are glad to hear that the government has finally re-launched recovery.gov website. This website was and is supposed to keep all of us informed about just what all of our stimulus dollars are doing, if anything. It sure doesn't look like much at this point, but the website promises to be far more interactive and user friendly. So far the Department of Health and Human Services has paid out the most money. The website does report projects and contracts paid out for, so we have some sort of knowledge that the taxpayer funded payday loans no faxing have gone somewhere other than to Wall Street, that is if the reporting of recovery.gov is accurate.

Issue of the Week: Rising Costs of Family Health Insurance

Plus Heroes and Jerks of the Week

Related content

Also in Expresso:

Also from Shepherd Express Staff: