The group says more the more than 76% increase in health insurance costs since 2000 compares to just a 9% hike in wages over the same period.
Not only is health insurance absorbing a larger portion of taxpayers' discretionary incomes says CEO Ron Pollack, but customers are getting less for their money.
POLLACK: "What those premiums are purchasing is lesser coverage. People are paying more in deductibles and co-payments and fewer benefits.. This is a story of people paying more and more and receiveing less and less."
Pollack says typical family insurance premiums have a total cost in Ohio of more than $11,000 per year. Employers, on average pay, nearly $9,000 of that.
The group does not endorse candidates, but Pollack says reversing, or at least stabilizing health insurance costs will require new national leadership that wants to change the health care system.
The group says data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Departments of Labor, and Health and Human Services were used to compile the numbers.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
