Data Reveals Little Change in U.S. Health Care Cost Increases for 2009

After enjoying a steady decline in health care cost trends over the past eight years, U.S. companies have seen average rate increases settle in around 6 percent to 7 percent, according to Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company. In 2008, average health care costs increased 6.0 percent, up from 5.3 percent in 2007. Hewitt is projecting a 6.4 percent average increase for employers in 2009.