Premium growth is swallowing income growth in many states
The financial burden of insurance premiums is growing, especially in sparsely populated states in the South, West and Northeast, according to a new analysis by the Leonard David Institute of Health Economics and United States of Care.
The big picture: Premiums are eating up an increasingly big share of workers' paychecks. And this analysis doesn't include out-of-pocket spending, which is rising even faster.
Between the lines: In 2016, the average national premium for a family plan ate up 30% of median income, including both the employer and employee share. That's up from 28% in 2010.
- Louisiana had the highest cost burden in 2016, with 37.1% of income going toward premiums. Minnesota had the lowest, at 24.4%.
- Nationally, premiums grew by 27.7% between 2010 and 2016, while income grew by 19.8%.
- Most economists view the employer share of premiums as lost wages for workers.
The bottom line: All trends point to health care becoming only more expensive for workers and employers. And the more both groups are forced to pay, the more poignant a political issue it becomes.
Go deeper: Health care costs are skyrocketing, and wiping out wage increases