Although health care costs are projected to rise at a slower rate in 2012 than they did in 2011, according to Aon Hewitt, the per-employee expense to companies will pass $10,000 for the first time in 2012. Employee expenses are on the rise as well.
According to its analysis released Monday, Aon Hewitt said the average increase in health care premiums was expected to be 7% in 2012, a bit lower than 2011′s 7.5% and just a shade higher than 2009′s 6.9%. However, the average total premium for employees in large companies is projected to be $10,475 in 2012, up from $9,792 in 2011 and $9,111 in 2010.
Employees are expected to have to kick in $2,306, or 22% percent of the total, compared with $2,084 in 2011 (21.3%) and $1,952 in 2010 (21.4%). Added to expected out-of-pocket expenses projected to reach an average of $2,275, that means employees will be paying a total of $4,581 in 2012.