Aon: Health Cost Increases Slow

Employer health care costs may rise an average of 11% in the next 12 months.

Consultants at the consulting arm of Aon Corp., Chicago, have included that forecast in a summary of results from a survey of about 70 large health carriers.

The 11% increase would be the lowest recorded since 2001, the Aon consultants report.

Results suggest that increases will average about 10.5% to 11% for all sorts of plans, including health maintenance organization plans, point-of-service plans, paid provider organization plans, and plans that incorporate health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements.